A rare glimpse into one of football’s toughest rivalries as Sir Alex Ferguson talks about Roy Keane for the first time in years in his new book.
Sir Alex Ferguson once said Roy Keane’s performance for Manchester United in their 1999 Champions League win over Juventus is something “that should be remembered for generations.”
Though both are big names in football, their relationship hasn’t been smooth. Keane, who played 480 games for United over 12 trophy-filled years, has said he doesn’t want to talk to Ferguson unless he apologizes for what happened between them.
Keane has been open about their long-running feud, which started after his famous MUTV rant following a 4-1 loss to Middlesbrough in 2005.
“I’m not one to hold a grudge, but I wouldn’t forgive Ferguson,” he told the Off the Ball Podcast. “The media made it seem like I upset everyone, which was rubbish. I don’t care if it’s Alex Ferguson or the Pope—you stand up for yourself.”
He added, “If he apologizes, maybe I’ll say hello, but I have no interest in talking to him.”
Despite their issues, Ferguson has praised Keane’s amazing game against Juventus, which many consider one of the best in Champions League history.
“I know Roy isn’t one to seek attention or praise from others,” Ferguson wrote in his new memoir, *Games of My Life*. “He gave everything he had in that game. It was his greatest night in red. Whenever stories are told about United’s great moments, Roy’s performance in the Stadio Delle Alpi is one I’ll always remember and want to share with future generations.”
Keane missed the final due to a yellow card, but after a tireless effort against stars like Zinedine Zidane—including scoring United’s first goal—Ferguson’s team won 4-3 on aggregate.
Ferguson later called Keane’s effort the greatest act of selflessness he’d seen on a football field, but Keane wasn’t happy with that.
“Comments like that kind of offend me,” Keane said. “What do you expect me to do? Not run around? Not give my best to my teammates and club? It’s like praising a postman for delivering mail—it’s his job.”
Keane added, “My job was to help Man United win matches.”
In that famous MUTV rant, Keane called teammate Kieran Richardson “lazy,” questioned why people in Scotland praise Darren Fletcher, criticized Edwin van der Sar, and made a sharp comment about Rio Ferdinand, saying something like, “Just because you’re paid £120,000 a week and played well for 20 minutes against Tottenham, you think you’re a superstar.”
United chose not to air Keane’s rant, and Ferguson, who rarely criticized players publicly, was furious. Wayne Rooney said Ferguson even jumped over a desk to confront Keane.
“I can’t share exactly what happened, but Roy had criticized some players on the club’s TV, and Fergie wasn’t happy, so he called a meeting,” Rooney said on the ‘Tony Bellew is Angry’ podcast.
“Roy said, ‘Let’s all watch it together,’ so the coaches, Alex, and the whole squad watched. I was 18 or 19 then. Roy asked if anyone had a problem, and everyone said no. It wasn’t that bad; it seemed like an old issue between Roy and the manager.”
“Then an argument started. Suddenly, I saw Ferguson jump over his desk—I thought, ‘Wow, this is wild.’ People had to hold him back. Eventually, it calmed down.”
“The next day at training, after about 30 minutes, Roy left, and that was the last time we saw him.”