Sky Sports pundit Roy Keane has recalled his infamous fight with one Manchester United legend and how the “tension” had been built between the pair.
Roy Keane was well known – and revered – for his no-nonsense approach both on the pitch and off it during his legendary Manchester United career.
However, the former United captain was widely admired for his leadership skills and Keane excelled as skipper under legendary former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.
Keane played a key role in United’s iconic treble-winning side in the 1998-99 season and was at the heart of the midfield in Sir Alex Ferguson’s teams of the past.
During his prolific spell at Old Trafford, the Irish hardman lifted seven Premier League titles, a Champions League and four FA Cups with United.
Despite his success at United, Keane’s time came to an end after his relationship with Ferguson fractured and he was cut from the Premier League club in 2005.
The 52-year-old Sky Sports pundit saw out the remainder of his playing career at Celtic – one of the two teams he supports – and retired from football in 2006.
Keane’s fight with Man Utd legend
Roy Keane has admitted that there is no love lost for Peter Schmeichel, despite having respect for his former Manchester United teammate.
The Irishman famously branded Peter Schmeichel as “overrated” and clashed with his fellow United legend when they played together at Old Trafford.
Keane pulled no punches towards the 60-year-old Dane on one occasion in the United dressing room, with the ex-Red Devils captain standing up for a youngster.
Speaking on The Overlap, Keane told United legend Gary Neville about his infamous bust-up with Schmeichel during the Red Devils’ pre-season tour of Asia in 1998.
The ex-United midfielder claimed that Schmeichel “wanted a fight” and claimed the legendary Sir Bobby Charlton even opened the door to find them during the bust-up.
“The good thing with me and Peter fighting that night – and it was his fault, he held his hand up and apologised – was that it was all fine,” Keane said in 2021.
“We were grown men in pre-season, a bit of tension in the group, which can happen.
“We were young men all playing to get into the team and for a contract. And Peter wanted a fight.
“I had a fight with Pally [Gary Pallister] in Marbella, and I was with Pally a few weeks ago, great guy!
“I vaguely remember Bobby Charlton opening the door and seeing me and him; I bet he was thinking, ‘F*****g hell!’ But I think we won the league that year, so it helped.”
Keane admitted that he couldn’t remember if the fight had happened the next morning, with former United teammate Nicky Butt filling in the details for him.
“I think Butty was on the scene,” he continued.
“To be fair, he was around, and he explained what happened. My finger was bent back. I think Peter had a black eye, to be fair to him.
“It had been brewing [as] it had been with Fergie. It does not just kick-off. There’s tension there.”
READ MORE: Roy Keane dropped ultimate compliment on one Man Utd legend, he’s the best he ever played with
Keane’s relationship with Schmeichel
Despite their differences at United – and even in the aftermath of their careers – Keane insisted that both Schmeichel and himself did not dislike each other.
But the ex-Republic of Ireland international was not a fan of Schmeichel’s approach on the pitch and a “little bit of tension” had been building up between them.
“There’d been a little bit of tension between us over the years, for football reasons,” Keane said in his first autobiography.
“Peter would come out shouting at players, and I felt sometimes that he was playing up to the crowd – ‘Look at me!’
“He was probably also doing it for his concentration levels, keeping himself on his toes. But I felt he did it too often as if he was telling the crowd, ‘Look at what I have to deal with.’
“I wouldn’t say we disliked each other, but we weren’t best buddies either.”
