Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Roy Keane, Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United
Josh Lawless
Roy Keane's Sir Alex Ferguson remark on Sky Sports was only the latest dig the ex Manchester United captain made at his former boss.
Keane was in the studio for Arsenal's 0-0 draw against Liverpool on Thursday night and discussion turned to the recent sacking of Ruben Amorim, who was dismissed following a reported fallout with United's hierarchy.
Amorim lasted just over a year in the United hotseat and had a win percentage of 38%. He has been replaced by interim boss Darren Fletcher, while United are said to be looking at bringing back either Ole Gunnar Solskjaer or Michael Carrick as a caretaker manager until the end of the season.
Former midfielder Fletcher took charge of United for the first time against Burnley and will lead the team against Brighton in the FA Cup this weekend.
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He had said that he doesn't like to make "major decisions" without consulting Ferguson and asked for his blessing.
On Sky, Keane said that Ferguson and former chief executive David Gill are "hanging on like a bad smell" at United as he called out the club for the decision-making process.
The remark brought a priceless reaction from Sturridge. But it was yet another insight into how Keane views Ferguson, who signed him from Nottingham Forest in 1993.
Keane played 480 times for United, scoring 51 goals and winning seven Premier League titles. He was essentially a mirror of Ferguson on the pitch but he left the Red Devils in bitter fashion in 2005.
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He left following an explosive interview with United's MUTV channel after a 4-1 defeat to Middlesbrough, where he laid into a plethora of his own teammates while out injured with a broken foot.
On Rio Ferdinand, Keane said: "Just because you are paid £120,000 a week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham you think you are a superstar."
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Keane also said he couldn't "understand why people in Scotland rave about Darren Fletcher", branded Kieron Richardson a "lazy defender" and added that Alan Smith "doesn't know what he is doing."
The interview was not aired on the channel, with Ferguson writing in his autobiography that they "could not release that video" as Keane "absolutely overstepped the line" and "there was nothing else" the club could do but cut ties.
Keane's departure, which he believes followed on from a strained relationship with assistant manager Carlos Queiroz was sealed in a brutal 10-minute meeting with Ferguson and Gill.
Crying in the car after being informed of his termination, he was given a testimonial for his service.
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Later finishing his career with Celtic, he has never forgiven nor patched things up with Ferguson since and has no intention of doing so until he gets an apology.
“I wouldn’t forgive Ferguson. The media spin, how I apparently upset everybody, it was all nonsense,” Keane told Off The Ball in 2019.
“I think when he apologises I will probably say hello to him, yeah. [But] I’ve no interest in speaking to the man."
In the same on-stage interview, the Irishman brought up Ferguson's family members being involved at United - including his son Darren as a player and his brother Martin running the scouting.
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He also referenced Ferguson and United pulling three loan players out of Preston when the Lancashire club sacked Darren in 2010.
Keane continued: “People said [Ferguson] always had the best interests of Manchester United at heart. Darren Ferguson [his son] won a medal. He was very lucky. [Alex Ferguson’s] brother was the chief scout for Manchester United for a long time. I’m surprised his wife wasn’t involved in the staff somewhere.
"Darren was [the manager] at Preston North End and lost his job. He had a couple of young players on loan from Manchester United, [but] guess what happens the next day? They’re pulled out of Preston. Is that doing the best for Manchester United? Do me a favour.”
Another recent notable dig from Keane at Ferguson came in 2023 during a quiz about Manchester derbies on The Overlap.
When Gary Neville got confused about two different games, mixing it up with a game where Ferguson was not in attendance at Maine Road when David Beckham scored a free-kick.
The Scot was absent from the dugout because he was at his son's wedding and Keane couldn't resist speaking his mind.
“His son was getting married,” Keane stated.
"Obviously… because he always done what was right for Man United but he obviously went to his son’s wedding, yeah, erm…”
Reflecting on the way his United career ended in an episode of Stick to Football, Keane still said he believes he was blameless.
"I don’t see how things could have been different with Sir Alex," Keane explained.
"It’s a silly thing to be thinking about… I get my anger is obviously a long time ago but the worst anger you can have is the justified anger where you feel—again I feel—I hadn’t done anything wrong.”
He also puts his former manager Brian Clough ahead of Ferguson but says the perfect mix would be "Clough’s warmth and Ferguson’s ruthlessness".