The Enemies List: Roy Keane Names the Six Rival Players Who Always Had It Out for Him
Football fans, rejoice! Manchester United legend Roy Keane has spilled the beans on the six rival players who consistently got under his skin during his playing days. The fiery Irishman revealed which opponents he deemed to be his arch-nemesis in his new book, "The Second Half."
Keane, infamous for his hot-headed temperament on the pitch, didn’t mince words when describing his on-field battles with these six adversaries. Speaking candidly about the tensions that simmered between them, Keane made it clear that these opponents weren’t just any ordinary players.
The Culprits
- Alan Shearer: Keane’s rivalry with the former Newcastle United striker extends back to their days on opposite sides of the rivalry. Keane labeled Shearer as "nasty" and "prickly," citing the Scot’s ability to wind him up with his incessant niggle.
- Patrick Vieira: Keane’s long-standing feud with the Arsenal and Juventus midfielder is the stuff of legend. Vieira, known for his rough-tackling style, constantly pushed Keane’s buttons, leading to the inevitable red card.
- Dennis Wise: Keane didn’t hesitate to call out Chelsea legend Wise, who often employed underhanded tactics to get under his opponent’s skin. Wise, it seemed, was more concerned with provoking Keane than playing the game honestly.
- David Batty: Leeds United’s Batty, a constant thorn in Keane’s side, earned his respect for his tenacity on the pitch. Despite his admiration for Batty’s tenacity, Keane still harbors some animosity towards the Leeds veteran.
- Rob Lee: Newcastle’s Rob Lee, another old adversary, often clashed with Keane due to their competitive nature. Lee, though, was a vastly more skilled player than Batty, making Keane’s battles with him even more intense.
- Alf-Inge Haaland: Manchester City’s Haaland, Keane’s most infamous victim, earned his ire due to his persistent cheating on the pitch. Haaland’s actions, according to Keane, drove him to the brink of insanity.
The Mind Games
In his book, Keane emphasized the psychological battle that often preceded and followed his on-field encounters with these opponents. "He was at the back of my mind," Keane confessed, "like Rob Lee was, like David Batty was, like Alan Shearer was, like Dennis Wise was, like Patrick Vieira was." In Keane’s eyes, it was a matter of when, not if, one of these players would receive a piece of his mind.
A World of Difference
Despite acknowledging his intense rivalry with these opponents, Keane insisted there was a vast chasm between kicking someone and intentionally injuring them. A player like Keane, he argued, wasn’t prone to reckless or vicious challenges, but rather employed them as a means of psychological warfare.
In a candid admission, Keane reflected on the harsh realities of professional football, saying, "I played in central midfield. I wasn’t a little right-back or left-back, who can coast through his career without tackling anybody. Or a tricky winger who never gets injured. I played in the middle of the park."
The Takeaway
Roy Keane’s admission of his rivalries is a refreshing glimpse into the mind of one of the game’s most fiercely competitive players. As football fans, we relish these kinds of battles, and Keane’s confessions only add to the mythology surrounding his storied career.
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