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Topics: Roy Keane, Manchester United, Premier League, Football
Roy Keane’s former Manchester United teammate once refused to go to the Irishman’s house because he was “afraid” of him.
Keane, 53, played for Man United for 12 years between 1993 and 2005, a period in which he won 12 major honours with the Red Devils – seven Premier Leagues, four FA Cups and one UEFA Champions League.
Aside from being a gifted footballer, he was known for his leadership qualities and no-nonsense approach to the game.
At times, his temper boiled over, which led to him gaining a reputation as one of football’s ‘hard men’ during the late 1990s and early 2000s.
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These days, the 53-year-old has clearly mellowed and makes regular appearances on ITV’s and Sky Sports’ live football coverage as well as often featuring on The Overlap brought to you by Sky Bet - allowing fans to get to know the ‘real’ Keane.
However, in October 2022, one of his former teammates explained how he was “afraid” of the former Ireland international during his time at United.
American goalkeeper Tim Howard signed for United from MLS side MetroStars (now New York Red Bulls) in 2005 and, at the time, had never experienced playing with someone like Keane.
When he appeared on Ben Foster’s ‘Fozcast’ in October 2022, he told a story about the time he was invited to Keane’s house.
"When you talk about one standout player, never saw it before, never saw it again,” said Howard.
“Roy Keane, as a captain, was just cut from a different cloth.
"Like most players, I was definitely afraid of him, but I've learned that he's just an amazing human being. But I used to be afraid of him, I remember to begin in training he would lay into me."
And like most foreign players, the former USMNT ‘keeper moved to the Northwest without his partner.
“And when I first moved, my wife went back to the United States briefly and I was on my own for a week, and he asked if I wanted to come over and have some dinner with him,” Howard explained.
"I just made an excuse not to go, I was like 'there is no way I'm having dinner at your house, I am frightened to death of you.' But this is what I'm saying, he just cares, he cares a lot."
Keane and Howard played together just 49 times before the Irishman left United for Celtic in December 2005, having fallen out with then-manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
As for Howard, he left United in 2007 and went on to forge a top career for himself in the Premier League with Everton - playing 414 times for the Toffees before returning to his native America when he moved to Colorado Rapids in 2016. The 'keeper, who was capped 121 times by his country, hung up his gloves in 2020.
