Tim Howard has revealed the one thing that Manchester United legend Roy Keane “hated” to see at the Carrington training complex and Old Trafford.
The 45-year-old American arrived at Manchester United in 2003 after he completed a £2.3m move from New York Red Bulls, formerly known as MetroStars.
Tim Howard lifted both an FA Cup and a League Cup during his time under legendary former United manager Sir Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.
However, the former United shot-stopper fell down the pecking order under Sir Alex Ferguson and later played second fiddle to club legend Edwin van der Sar.
Howard left United as part of a permanent switch to Everton in 2007, having previously spent time under former Toffees manager David Moyes on loan.
The ex-United States international, who made 77 appearances for the Red Devils, had a successful run at Goodison Park after his departure from Old Trafford.
Howard would leave Everton in 2016 and return to the States to see out the remainder of his playing career at Colorado Rapids and Memphis 901.
Howard on Man Utd legend Keane
Tim Howard arrived at Old Trafford while Manchester United legend Roy Keane was captain at the Premier League club under Sir Alex Ferguson.
Keane was widely admired for his exceptional leadership skills and the Irishman took a no-nonsense approach both on the pitch and off it.
The 52-year-old Sky Sports pundit had an illustrious playing career under Ferguson until Keane’s relationship with the former manager fractured in 2005.
Keane lifted seven Premier League titles, a Champions League and four FA Cups, including captaining his side to their iconic treble win in the 1998-99 season.
Speaking in his column for The Daily Mail, Howard insisted that the Irish hardman “created such an impossible standard” for both himself and the players around him.
“He would thrive alongside the best players of this era because they want to be great as well. He would still raise the level of top teams,” he said.
“I was nervous about everything when I first got to Manchester United in 2003. But when meeting someone, Roy is a gentleman – he looks you in the eye, he shakes your hand, and he speaks very clearly.
“It’s only once you lace up your boots and start training that you realize: this is a different animal.
“Roy created such an impossible standard – he set it for himself and that set the bar for the players around him.”
Howard reveals what Keane ‘hated’
Keane made his exit from Old Trafford in 2005 after Ferguson axed him from the club, with the United legend seeing out the rest of his career with Celtic.
Before his relationship with Ferguson splintered, the former United captain was a linchpin figure in the Red Devils midfield and the club’s dressing room.
Howard revealed that Keane made his presence felt at both Old Trafford and the Carrington training complex when he was playing for the Red Devils.
According to the former Everton and United star, Keane would ‘hate’ when he saw people at Old Trafford or Carrington purely there for “the sake of it.”
“He thought there was a right way to do things – and there was. He was obsessed with being the best,” Howard added.
“Put simply: Roy wanted to make sure there was no-one around Carrington or Old Trafford that was just there for the sake of it.
“He hated that. He wanted everybody who had a job to do it right. The physios, the catering staff, the travel staff – it didn’t matter.
“If you were employed by the club and you had a job to prepare the players, Roy had an opinion on it and his opinion was right.”