Over 16 years on, Roy Keane’s dramatic exit from Manchester United is still an issue that remains contentious and emotional for those involved.
With nearly 500 United appearances – the majority of which as their iconic captain – and 17 trophies, including seven Premier League titles and the Champions League crown, under his belt, there were few players more synonymous with their club. Yet just three months into the 2005/06 campaign, the two parted ways in acrimonious fashion that generated no shortage of hostile feelings.
His departure marked the climax of increasing tensions between Keane and the United management, with his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson becoming increasingly strained. The robust midfield has become increasingly critical of the standards at the club, including the level of players and standard of infrastructure.
The situation came to an irreversible head when Keane gave an in-house interview which gained instant infamy, despite never being aired. The Irishman took aim at just about everyone and everything at Old Trafford when dissecting the club’s humbling 4-1 defeat at Middlesbrough in late October.
The explosive outburst was recorded for a post-match section on MUTV called "Roy Keane Plays The Pundit" but the programme was never broadcast as the club sought to destroy all copies of the tape. Keane never played for the club again and after being fined £5k, the mutual termination of his contract was agreed. There was little agreement over anything else.
One by one, Keane pointed out the failings of his United teammates. Edwin van der Sar was at fault for Boro’s opener, with Keane observing: "He should have saved that (a 30-yard goal from Gaizka Mendieta). That was saveable." On Rio Ferdinand, who was at fault for the home side’s second, Keane added: "I have seen that happen to Rio before [after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink robbed Ferdinand for the second goal]. It is poor defending. Just because you are paid £120,000 a week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham you think you are a superstar."
Have Your Say! Was Keane right to speak out against his teammates in 2005, and were Man Utd to harsh in their reaction? Tell us what you think here.
Keane did not spare the other United players, saying of John O’Shea: "He's just strolling around when he should have been busting a gut to get back", and on Kieran Richardson: "He is a lazy defender who deserved to get punished…he wasn't doing his job."
One of Keane’s more scathing remarks was for Darren Fletcher: "I can't understand why people in Scotland rave about Darren Fletcher" while he remarked on Alan Smith: "What is he doing there? He is wandering around as if he is lost. He doesn't know what he is doing."
He also took fire at the side’s younger players: "When they sign the contracts, they think they have made it. They owe it to the manager, the staff and the fans. They think they have made it. They haven't." Keane did however contextualise this, with criticism of their experienced teammate: "The younger players have been let down by some of the more experienced ones - they are not leading. There is a shortage of characters."
In an interview, recorded in 2020, Keane was quizzed on United’s stance on the issue and on the reports that it was ‘destroyed’ by his club. “It was propaganda from United, trying to paint a picture of an interview that I had to do with the club,” Keane responded. “I know how these things work and other clubs to do it too with it all upbeat, saying how this and that were great. I had to do the 4-1 – what did they want me to say? That the team played well?
“I said it was poor, but this idea that I was ranting and raving was nonsense. That the tape had to be destroyed – what a load of rubbish. But the good thing for me was that I had a chance to watch it with the players before I left, and it was fine. Ask any of the players that watched it.”
And did he think that it was a conspiracy by the club? “That is a very strong description, but they were very happy to paint the picture that I was a loose cannon who was slagging everyone off in a video. That I was criticising the staff and the players too, which was absolute nonsense.”
Sir Alex Ferguson, who is said to still have a frosty relationship with Keane, previously said on the fallout of the interview: "It was unbelievable. He slaughtered everyone. Darren Fletcher got it. Alan Smith. Van der Sar. Roy was taking them all down. The hardest part of Roy’s body is his tongue. He has the most savage tongue you can imagine."
It was an interview that ended Keane’s glorious Old Trafford career in unfortunate yet typically forthright circumstances. Two months later, the midfielder joined Scottish giants Celtic on a short-term contract before hanging up his boots. He is now one of the UK’s most recognisable and popular TV pundits, following managerial stint at Sunderland and Ipswich, alongside various coaching roles.
