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Roy Keane Revealed The Only Favour Sir Alex Ferguson Did For Him After He Left

Roy Keane Revealed The Only Favour Sir Alex Ferguson Did For Him After He Left

Roy Keane and Sir Alex Ferguson fell out but there was one favour that the Scot did for his former captain.

Josh Lawless

Josh Lawless

Roy Keane and Sir Alex Ferguson didn't ever patch things up following his exit from Manchester United in 2005 but there was one favour that the Scot did for his former captain.

While in charge of Sunderland Keane was able to get a 19-year-old Jonny Evans in on loan and he helped the Black Cats achieve promotion back to the Premier League in the 2006/07 campaign.

Evans played 18 times before returning to his parent club. But he was still far down the pecking order and only managed three appearances the following campaign.

Image: PA
Image: PA

However, with Sunderland struggling in the top flight, Keane was able to draft the Northern Irishman in on a temporary basis for a second successive season.

He joined on loan in the middle of the season - Ferguson going out of his way to help out Keane after United trounced Sunderland 4-0 on Boxing Day.

"After the game, Alex Ferguson came to my office for a drink," Keane wrote in his second autobiography, as per Pundit Arena.

"When he was leaving, he said to me, 'Give me a call about Jonny Evans.'

"He could see I was down in the dumps after the game. I think he looked at me and thought, 'He needs a dig-out here.'

"It was the one time he showed me - I suppose - affection: 'I'll watch your back.'

"He caught me off guard - 'He actually cares, a bit.'

"Niall (Quinn) got on to David Gill and we got Jonny, but there was a massive loan fee.

"So, Ferguson showed me affection, but it was business, too. But - and this is important - Jonny made a huge difference to us."

Image: PA
Image: PA

Keane never played with Evans at United but loved everything about him, particularly his mentality. One incident where he knocked someone out in the canteen earned Keane's respect.

"Jonny was a centre-half. He had the qualities of a Manchester United player, and he was bringing them to Sunderland," Keane wrote.

"For such a young man - he was nineteen - he was very mature, and a born leader.

"Jonny was unbelievable for us. He lived with his mam and dad in Sale, near my home, so I picked him up there and brought him up to see the set-up at Sunderland.

"I knew I was on a winner; I knew him, and I knew what he was about.

"I remembered an incident when I was still at United; there'd been a fight in the canteen and Jonny had looked after himself well - I think he knocked the other lad out. I knew Jonny was tough."

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football, Sunderland, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Roy Keane