Roy Keane Unleashes Brutal Attack on Sir Alex Ferguson in Explosive Man Utd Tirade
Roy Keane simply couldn't resist. While delivering another scathing critique of the chaos plaguing Manchester United's hierarchy, the former club captain identified the ongoing presence of legendary boss Sir Alex Ferguson as "a lingering odor" overshadowing every one of his replacements.
Keane and Ferguson notoriously clashed two decades past. The animosity escalated during a pre-season training session before the 2005–06 campaign and reached its climax when the ex-midfielder delivered a brutal assessment of his colleagues' showing in a 4–1 loss to Middlesbrough for the club's internal television network. Keane received a £5,000 ($6,700) fine and departed the club through mutual agreement the subsequent month.
The outspoken analyst has made minimal effort to ease the hostility aimed at Ferguson. Instead, Keane seems determined to criticize the legendary boss whenever possible. After witnessing another unsuccessful Ferguson replacement's exit, the former captain took it upon himself to condemn the ongoing involvement of the Scotsman and his previous chief executive David Gill.
"You observe who's calling the shots at Manchester United," Keane concluded during his Sky Sports rant this week, "you still have Ferguson and David Gill lingering around like a lingering odor."
Ferguson and Gill continue as non-executive board members at United and remain familiar faces at Old Trafford. The persistent shadow of the manager, specifically, represents a recurring discussion point at United.
History on Roy Keane's Side
The Red Devils possess a joint-record 20 league championships but merely three managers account for these victories. Following Ernest Mangnall's achievements in the early 1900s, Sir Matt Busby would guide United's most memorable triumphs throughout the 1950s and '60s before Ferguson's era. Similar to his fellow Scotsman, Busby struggled with stepping away.
While Ferguson would exchange the touchline for boardroom positions, Busby maintained his managerial title after selecting Wilf McGuinness as his replacement in 1969. The newcomer placed in the Old Trafford hot seat was labeled the "chief coach"—a precursor to Ruben Amorim's complaints about the "head coach" designation fifty years later—and never gained the players' confidence from Busby's era.
"Not everyone, unfortunately, would perform for Wilf," United's David Sadler would subsequently admit. "The team collectively didn't give maximum commitment for him. It was that straightforward."
Busby made his comeback for an ultimately unsuccessful second tenure which Ferguson has, to this point, successfully avoided.
Keane: 'Any Ex-United Player Has Got a Chance'
Keane's harsh words weren't reserved exclusively for Ferguson. He harbored considerable frustration for minority stakeholder Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his sporting director Jason Wilcox, who supervised Amorim's catastrophic 14-month tenure.
"What occurs during these job interviews? I'm curious," Keane questioned, his intense gaze scanning the Sky Sports studio. "Why do they continuously offer certain individuals employment? What transpires in the interview that makes them decide, and 12, 14 months afterward, 'he's not our man.'
"Don't you figure that out when you converse with them? You examine someone directly and think...
"Who's making these choices? Ratcliffe, Wilcox? Who's participating in this interview procedure, you're discussing with a manager, you develop an impression of someone and conclude, 'He's our choice?'"
The qualifications for an appropriate candidate in Keane's opinion depended entirely on intangible qualities. "Nearly disregard the resume," he stated. "You require something on your record, naturally, that you've secured silverware or managed extensively. But you must examine someone directly and ask, 'Are you the person to advance us?'
"What occurs when someone enters your locker room, the elite players observe and question, 'What can you offer us?' That's what the top performers do. And if you lack the responses, the players will destroy you."
Keane firmly dismissed the notion of current caretaker manager Darren Fletcher being suitable for the permanent role and instead endorsed Newcastle United's Eddie Howe as his favored selection.
"United-Burnley, the quality of the match was embarrassing," Keane complained after witnessing Fletcher manage Wednesday's 2–2 stalemate at Turf Moor. "Everyone following the game said, 'It wasn't terrible, we performed adequately.' Nonsense! Complete garbage. We're moving in circles. Any former United player stands a chance."