In brief
In 2022, Roy Keane excluded Paul Scholes from his final Manchester United squad of the Premier League era.
Among those club legends chosen by Keane were Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney.
Keane chose not to hire Sir Alex Ferguson, United’s renowned manager, as coach.
It would be impossible to discuss Manchester United’s greatest players from the Premier League era without including the lucky Roy Keane. The Irishman raised the bar for everyone around him throughout his wildly successful 12-year tenure at Old Trafford by setting an example.
Throughout every practice and game, Keane expected his guys to give it their all. New hires were aware that their success depended on gaining the favour of the captain. It isn’t hyperbole to say that without Keane in midfield, the Red Devils wouldn’t have taken home as much hardware in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Although Sir Alex Ferguson had many talented football players, none of them had the same impact as Keane. The no-nonsense midfielder, who tried his hand at management before becoming a Sky Sports commentator, made an appearance on Monday Night Football (MNF) in 2022 and selected his favourite Manchester United starting lineup of the Premier League era.
Some contentious deletions were made. One of the best English midfielders in football history, Paul Scholes, was not included. Additionally, Ferguson—whom Keane still harbours animosity towards following their 2005 argument—was not even selected manager of the team.
Goalkeeper: Peter Schmeichel
Games with Keane: 204
The Old Trafford supporters still adore Peter Schmeichel despite his time at Manchester City. Keane picked the big-statured goalie to be his option between the posts even though he and the former Denmark international didn’t always agree.
He was excellent. He was very, very good, but not as good as everyone believed. I remember him well, of course. He behaved well in the dressing room. Peter and I weren’t the best of friends—quite the opposite—but what matters most is that I greatly respected him and that he delivered in crucial situations to help us win crucial games. We would win trophies with Peter’s help. He was rarely called upon, but when he was, he would deliver. He made some really good saves.
Right-Back: Gary Neville
Games with Keane: 322
Because of his self-deprecating style as a pundit, fans tend to forget Gary Neville’s brilliance. The charming Englishman, a one-club man, was a legendary member of the renowned Class of ’92 and made over 600 games for the team, 322 of which were with Keane.
“I will go with Nev even though I give him a lot of stick.” To do what Gary did, you must possess quality. He was an excellent teammate and a very talented player. You could tell those five or six were here to stay because they were excellent players when they came here to train. Gary was a really good professional player, but I believe he used to go to bed at half eight every night, and we would be critical of him. He clearly liked the club, and it showed. We all gave Gary a hug. We all enjoyed him. That has obviously altered over time.
Centre-Back: Jaap Stam
Games with Keane: 106
Man-mountain Jaap Stam will always be remembered for having one of the greatest Premier League debut seasons during the team’s treble-winning season after joining from Eredivisie team PSV Eindhoven. Even though the haughty Dutchman and Keane only played 106 games together, it was enough for him to establish his dominance over the Irishman.
“I had to include Jaap Stam. Although he hasn’t played as many games as the other boys, he was a huge, strong, and skilled one-on-one fighter. Were there any true vulnerabilities in him? He was aggressive, had the ability to head it, leap, and understand the game. He was a good boy. I had a great relationship with him. His departure did not surprise me. He had suffered a serious injury, and players do come and go from a top team. However, he was an outstanding Manchester United player.
Centre-Back: Gary Pallister
Games with Keane: 142
Gary Pallister is frequently overlooked. Some of the best centre backs in the division have played for the 20-time English champions, yet the 22-cap Englishman consistently behind players like Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand, and the aforementioned Stam. Keane, who has appeared with the couple 144 times on MNF, provided insight into their relationship.
“I went with Gary Pallister, but the other one was problematic. You have to leave someone out, even though Brucey was an excellent player. Rio read the game well and was obviously a good athlete, but I also had a fantastic relationship with Pally. Some of the guys at United will go above and beyond to assist you. He was clearly a very skilled player. He always appeared worn out, but I would have him inside.
Left-Back: Denis Irwin
Games with Keane: 298
Keane chose the seasoned Denis Irwin as his first option left-back, despite the fact that many would have expected Patrice Evra to be his first pick. Irwin, who was born in Cork and could play on either side of the defence, was the ideal professional for Ferguson, and his skill was evident every week.
“Denis Irwin each and every day.” For Ireland and Manchester United, I shared a room with him. Although he was right-footed and could play right-back, I have him at left-back. Excellent at set pieces, a brilliant trainer who rarely got hurt, showed up for all the important games. Denis was on par with the greatest full-backs of all time if he were playing now.
Right Wing: David Beckham
Games with Keane: 260
According to Keane, David Beckham is a superb player, but his fame outside of the football community frequently overshadows his skill. Whether it was in England or throughout Europe, the former captain of the Three Lions was able to put a ball on a six pence for his teammates. Keane also shared some positive remarks about his work ethic.
“I have to go with Becks on the right side. He had exceptional skill as a player. Where do you begin? He was good at set pieces, he could run all day for you, and he could earn you goals and an assist. With Nev at his heels, he had to.
Becks was from London, was a little younger, and had a passion for automobiles and gear. However, you want to know if a young athlete is training appropriately and putting their all into the game. That’s what Becks did. The other parts didn’t matter to me. You should pull a young player aside if they were causing distractions. However, he made a move.
Central Midfield: Bryan Robson
Games with Keane: 20
Keane has no place for Scholesy. Bryan Robson is his choice to replace the ginger-haired midfielder. The currently Manchester United advisor, affectionately known as “Captain Marvel,” was a strong competitor who is renowned for his skilful ball-willing.
“Bryan Robson needs to enter.” Bryan was a brave, fantastic player for Manchester United who scored several important goals when the team wasn’t playing at its best. At Forest, I faced Robbo a couple of times. He was persistent, so it was challenging. The word that comes to me when I think of Robbo is brave, daring, and getting into the box.
Central Midfield: Paul Ince
Games with Keane: 77
Born in London Despite playing in the midfield with Keane just 77 times, Paul Ince, who also played for Liverpool in his playing days, was selected ahead of several Manchester United greats. An industrious ace who could perform both offensive and defensive duties, Ince played a crucial role in the early phases of Ferguson’s prosperous tenure in M16.
Perhaps playing for Liverpool or something damaged Incey’s reputation at United, but he was a really talented player. It was merely teasing, but there is a lot of chatter about Incey being the Guv’nor and it being used against him. There was nothing nasty about that. In my opinion, Incey was an excellent player and a great teammate.
It was difficult to leave out Butty and Scholesy, two outstanding players and characters. However, I just believed that Incey was excellent in midfield during the first season I was there, when we won the double. In the trenches, he was a valuable teammate to have on your side. He could get you a goal, defend you, and head it. You know what, I liked having him around.
Left Wing: Ryan Giggs
Games with Keane: 379
Ryan Giggs is a true Manchester United legend and the all-time leading assist provider in the Premier League. Keane, who witnessed the Welshman’s talent 379 times firsthand, is the most qualified person to wax poetic about the winger. Keane’s ‘ideal’ Red Devils XI could not possibly contain another left-winger, given he was one of the best wingers in Champions League history.
“Giggsy cannot be left out of a Manchester United squad. Giggsy must enter when I hear coaches discussing players’ consistency. Giggsy was a sort of superstar who was on the team before me and had a lot of obligations off the pitch. However, he put his football first.
Forward: Cristiano Ronaldo
Games with Keane: 68
After his first stint at Old Trafford, the Portuguese talisman went on to become one of the greatest football players to ever grace the turf—and he is a worthy addition to Keane’s best-ever Manchester United team. “When he came to United, he was still a kid. But you could just see the potential in him, the work rate, the desire. Did we all think he would go on and achieve the things he did in terms of the goals, the assists? No. But did we all think he had a chance to become one of the greatest players ever? Yeah. A lot can happen. Injuries. Distractions. But look at Ronaldo. For all his off-the-field stuff, I don’t think it was ever a distraction. We all liked him. He had that innocence. He has been amazing and I still love watching him.
Forward: Wayne Rooney
Games with Keane: 39
Wayne Rooney, arguably Manchester United’s greatest servant, made his debut with a hat-trick performance in the Champions League. The rest is history. Due to their age difference, Keane and the Liverpool-born striker, who is famous for his unwavering enthusiasm and goal-scoring ability, lined up beside each other 39 times. However, Rooney was never going to be left out, was he?
Wayne was a little unique. He has played a lot of games while he was at Everton. He was a Scouser, and he was chirpier. I wouldn’t say that I warmed up to him as fast as Ronaldo did. However, it was obvious that he would be an exceptional player. He and I had one or two arguments. I was watching the rugby league when he grabbed the remote control and started watching X-Factor. However, that was fantastic. To release tension, you need those arguments.
Manager: Ron Atkinson
Games in charge of United: 260
Keane responded with a wry smirk when Jamie Carragher asked him to name his manager: “Erm… big Ron Atkinson.” It should come as no surprise to those who know the former engine room operator’s connection with Ferguson that the latter is left out.
Between 1981 and 1986, the Englishman, who is currently in his 80s, managed 260 games in the Old Trafford hotseat. He had 124 victories, 62 defeats, and 74 draws from those games. Atkinson, a native of Liverpool, won the FA Cup twice (1982–1983) and 1984–1985, but he never took home the first division trophy despite having a points per game ratio of 1.72. It’s interesting to note that Keane never played for him.
The Greatest Man by Roy Keane United’s XI of teammates
Place
The player
Matches
Points for each match
Minutes
Goalie
Schmeichel, Peter
204
2.11
16,937
The right-back
Neville, Gary
322
2 p.m.
25,714
The centre-back
Jaap Stam
106
1.99
8,900
The centre-back
Pallister, Gary
142
2.17
11,544
The left-back
Irwin, Denis
265
2.08
21,434
Midfield on the right
Beckham, David
260
1.99
20,058
Center-midfield
Robson, Bryan
20
2.10
1,117
Center-midfield
Paul Ince
77
2.16
6,370
Midfield on the left
Giggs, Ryan
379
2.09
27,785
The center-forward
Ronaldo Cristiano
68
2.07
4,392
The center-forward
Rooney, Wayne
39
2.05
2,870
Supervisor
Atkinson, Ron
