Roy Keane: Man United legend’s heated clash with Jason McAteer remembered

Roy Keane terrified many opponents during his glittering 12-year career with Manchester United.

The fiery Irishman wasn’t the most physically imposing midfielder in the Premier League. He wasn’t a 6ft 4in powerhouse of a man like his old rival Patrick Vieira, for example.

Nevertheless, Keane always seemed like the toughest player on the pitch. He’d fly into tackles, square up to opponents, scream at his teammates and, well, just generally scare everyone a bit.

But one opponent who didn’t appear to be intimidated by Keane was his old Republic of Ireland teammate Jason McAteer.

The relationship between the two midfielders was already frosty prior to Keane’s decision to walk out on the Ireland squad on the eve of the 2002 World Cup finals in South Korea and Japan.

After that incident in the summer of 2002, their relationship broke down completely.

And when the two players went head-to-head during a Premier League clash between Sunderland and Man Utd at the Stadium of Light the following season, they inevitably clashed.

Keane had to be held back by referee Uriah Rennie and teammate David Beckham, who had a smile on his face during the altercation.

McAteer was seen mouthing “f*** off!” to Keane, who made a gesture towards his international colleague to keep talking.

McAteer then reacted by telling Keane to write it down in his next book, following the publication of his first autobiography in 2002.

Watch the clip here:

Keane was later sent off for a foul on McAteer.

Keane vs McAteer. Once again, Roy would have the final word. pic.twitter.com/TALO2Ztjg4

Years later, in 2020, McAteer admitted that he would go into matches with the intention of hurting Keane.

“Sometimes you play against fellow (countrymen)… like Leeds I’d play