Flawed genius who became the club’s most influential player ever

“Even that night in Barcelona, it was a great night in the history of the club, and it will be hard to beat it, but you knew some people had reached their height. It’s human nature. I was frustrated by this. I wanted to get back there again, because as much as I thought we were a good team, until you get to a second or third final, you don’t confirm it. It disappoints me that I didn’t win the World Cup. People say ‘but Roy, you played for Ireland, you were never going to win the World Cup’. I never saw it like that.”

That was typical of the Roy Keane who developed into one of the finest Captains in Manchester United’s proud history. Ferguson was to say that Keane was, without doubt, the most influential player that the club has seen. He was the leader, the driver, the one who led by example, and the one who would not take anything less than the 100% which he demanded from every team mate. He was to win another three Premier league titles with United plus an FA Cup before he was to depart the club in 2005, something that took everybody by surprise.

What brought about the end of his 12 years at Old Trafford. Maybe the fact that he cared too much. Maybe it was the fact that the “it’ll do” mentality would never “do” for Roy Keane. There was a 4-1 defeat away to Middlesborough that started it – a game in which he didn’t even play in, nor attend. But it was the manner in which United had lost that hurt him most. The following Monday he appeared as an analyst of the game on MUTV and he was very critical of the players. The club opted not to show the broadcast, but somebody leaked an inaccurate account of it, and on the Tuesday morning that account was splashed all over the tabloids. It portrayed United as a club in turmoil.

“I took that defeat personal, then there was the video that was leaked and everything snowballed. That defeat still hurts me; not that we got beaten 4-1, but the way we got beaten. I didn’t even bloody play, which was even more frustrating, because part of me is saying, ‘Roy, stay out of it, it’s not your business,’ but I’m a player in that dressing room, and this affected the dressing room.

“I was seeing players doing stuff off the pitch, had the feeling it was affecting them, and it came to a head with that defeat. That feeling, I’ll take it to the grave. And yes, I nailed certain people. This was a match I watched in a pub in Dubai. I had a foot injury. The club had told me to take a break. I walked out of that pub at 3-1, I couldn’t take any more. I took the publicity with a pinch of salt, senior figures at the club should have done the same. Everyone got sucked into it, when they should have known better. I think, in the end, the manager was swayed by certain people he works with.”

How did he feel? Anger, sadness, resignation?

“It had been coming. There were no tears. None. It was done. It’s the people around you that get upset. Family members, wife, parents. They care about you, so they worry. For me, it was mostly acceptance. It had been coming and then it happened. It was the right thing for United, maybe not the right thing for Roy Keane, maybe not for Alex Ferguson, but for the club. I always said, when the day came, I’d be ready. Locker cleaned out the evening before: I was ready.”

But did the end have to be that painful?

“I think so,” he said. “I cared too much. If things weren’t going well, if new signings weren’t working out, if the reserves were having a bad time, if the youth team wasn’t doing well, I was taking it all on board. That’s what I am. I can’t be flippant about these things. This is who I am, like it or lump it. It doesn’t mean I’m not a nice person.”A number of people at Old Trafford believe that at a difficult meeting involving players and coaches following the public airing of Keane’s criticism of some teammates, there was some sharp swordplay between the then skipper and assistant coach, Carlos Queiroz. The coach accused Keane of disloyalty, a brave accusation at the best of times. To use an expression he likes, he then nailed Queiroz by reminding him it was he who ran off to coach Real Madrid and only came back to United when things didn’t work out in Spain. The feeling is that Queiroz went to Ferguson and made it “him or me”. Since Keane’s time was almost up, it was him.

Not long after his exit, Keane went back to United’s training ground to return his company car.

“The players gave me a lot of respect. I said goodbye and there were no hard feelings. United wanted me to have my testimonial, and showed their class as a club in the way they did everything for me. That brought closure. By the end of my time, a lot of the players didn’t like me. I’m convinced of that. Possibly they wouldn’t admit it, but there’s no doubt in my mind, the players had just had enough of me; they were just ready for a change. Ready for a different voice in the changing room. I was losing that influence.”

“I was fortunate to play for United. I enjoyed all my days there, had a good time, met some bloody good people, good characters, good men. I go back to the fellows that were there when I arrived: Robbo [Bryan Robson], Brucie [Steve Bruce], Sparky [Mark Hughes], Andre [Kanchelskis], Incey [Paul Ince], Giggsy My first few years at United were very sociable. We’d agree to meet in Mulligans bar and 10 or 12 lads would show up. You were the exception if you didn’t, now you’re the exception if you do. The game has changed that much.”

And so he was gone. His going is a void that Manchester United has never, ever, since filled. If ever they find another midfield general who has half the skill, tenacity, courage, determination, and who has anywhere near the indomitable, and indefatigable spirit, and will, that Roy Keane had, then they will be a very lucky outfit that’s for sure.

Tom Clare has been following United for over half a century and has had the pleasure of seeing some of our finest players in all their pomp.

Next week he will chronicle Keane’s successor – The tenacious Gary Neville