Action Images / Jason Cairnduff Livepic
Roy Keane once surprisingly admitted that there were three English midfielders 'way better' than him during his career.
The Irishman is regarded as one of the greatest midfield talents in Premier League history and his leadership qualities are often used as an example for young footballing prospects. But his overall game was a sight to behold, you needn't look further than his performance in Turin for Manchester United.
Keane put in one of the best individual displays in United's 3-2 win over Juventus en route to winning the Champions League in 1999. He prepared to go to war each time he put the Red Devils' captain's armband on, squaring off with the likes of former Arsenal skipper Patrick Vieira.
This winning mentality often led to Keane getting carried away, and his feisty reputation often overshadowed just how talented he was on and off the ball. It's not often that he shows humility, but he once insisted that he wasn't on par with three English midfielders who played during his era.
'Better Than Me' - Roy Keane on Three English Midfielders
Roy Keane via Reuters: Action Images / Jason Cairnduff
Keane played in a United team under Sir Alex Ferguson brimming with talent, but he stood out due to his influence. Ryan Giggs, Paul Scholes, David Beckham and teenagers Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo were among the best teammates he shared a dressing room with.
The Premier League had perhaps been at its most exciting and competitive during this era and, as such, there were individual rivalries as much as there were teams scrapping it out for the title. When English football fans debate the best midfielder in top-flight history, they often point to a homegrown trio.
Keane appeared to echo sentiments over that trio when he compared himself to them back in 2020 (via Manchester Evening News): "When you compare me to players — people talk about Scholes, Gerrard, Lampard — these guys were way better than me."
The Irishman knew first-hand just how talented Scholes was given they were members of the United team that claimed an unprecedented continental treble in 1999. A member of the Class of 92', Scholes is deemed one of the most naturally gifted players in the club's history, winning 11 Premier League titles.
Gerrard and Lampard were just heading into their peak years when Keane unceremoniously departed Old Trafford in 2005. They went on to cement their legacies as Premier League icons, thriving for Liverpool and Chelsea during the noughties.
Keane added: "I’m not saying they had the same influence in their teams as me and I couldn’t compete with the guys, but, yeah, they were better than me. I had lads at Rockmount better than me. I’m under no illusions about that."
Gerrard put Liverpool on his back during his career, choosing to stay put despite the Reds' struggles to compete at the top of the Premier League. He captained his boyhood club to Champions League glory in the miracle of Istanbul in 2005.
Lampard, meanwhile, became the top-flight's all-time top goalscorer alongside winning the title three times. He also lifted the Champions League in 2012 after captaining the Blues in the final.
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|Lampard vs Scholes vs Gerrard - Premier League|
|Player|Apps|Goals|Assists|Minutes|Yellow cards|Red cards|
|---|
|Frank Lampard|609|177|102|48,870|59|2|
|Steven Gerrard|504|120|92|41,131|61|6|
|Paul Scholes|499|107|55|36,130|97|4|
Gerrard Disagreed MORE Than Disagrees
steven gerrard
Keane's opinion stems from the trio having possessed different world-class attributes. His longtime teammate Scholes was a midfield maestro who felt more Barcelona than United. Pep Guardiola is one of several footballing greats to place him above Gerrard and Lampard.
Gerrard's all-round game is often why fans and players argue he was the superior one of the trio. A box-to-box warrior who put out fires before leading his side forward on the attack.
Lampard's game wasn't just about goals but he came to the fore constantly when his side needed a winner. He often arrived at the right moment to bury the ball past a goalkeeper.
While Keane feels he was inferior, Gerrard doesn't as the former England captain once called him the best midfielder in Premier League history. He said: "Roy Keane No 1. The rest? They’re all different. Frank [Lampard] is the best goalscoring midfielder, [Paul] Scholes the best footballer, Patrick Vieira the most difficult opponent… I loved playing against all of them."
Eric Cantona, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes
Eric Cantona, Roy Keane and Paul Scholes
The good thing about football is that it's all about opinion and it's interesting to see those who have played the game have different views on their peers. But for those who watched Keane they will certainly acknowledge him as one of the finest midfield talents of his generation.