Ex-Manchester United captain Roy Keane revealed two legendary former players were the toughest opponents that he faced in his illustrious playing career.
Roy Keane’s playing career for both club and country saw him cross paths with several formidable figures on the pitch, including Arsenal legend Patrick Vieira.
The Manchester United legend enjoyed a prolific spell at Old Trafford, with Keane widely hailed as one of the best captains and midfielders of all time.
Keane, who arrived at United from Nottingham Forest in 1993, was a sublime midfield presence and excelled as club captain during his time at the Red Devils.
The 52-year-old lifted seven Premier League titles, a Champions League and four FA Cups with United before his relationship with Sir Alex Ferguson fractured.
Former United manager Ferguson ruthlessly axed Keane from Old Trafford in 2005 and the Irishman briefly played for Scottish side Celtic before his retirement in 2006.
Keane later had managerial spells at Sunderland and Ipswich Town and was also assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and Forest.
READ MORE: Jermain Defoe finally shares what Man Utd legend Roy Keane is really like off camera during punditry
Keane names his toughest opponent
Speaking to Manchester United legend Gary Neville, Roy Keane was asked about his career on the pitch and the Irish hardman didn’t hold back with his feelings.
Keane openly talked about the most overrated teammate he had and the Sky Sports pundit also named the best player he played alongside in his career.
The former United midfielder also dropped his verdict on the best player of all time, as well as revealing the one time he asked for a shirt swap and was rejected.
When he was asked about his toughest opponent, Keane revealed the two standout names were England hero Paul Gascoigne and France legend Zinedine Zidane.
The former Republic of Ireland international hailed Gascoigne as “brilliant” and played against him while he was at Forest.
However, Keane admitted that his “overall” toughest opponent would have been Real Madrid legend Zidane, having played against him in the Champions League.
“When I was younger at [Nottingham] Forest, obviously I played against Gazza [Gascoigne],” he told Neville on The Overlap in 2021.
“Gazza was brilliant. But overall, I suppose Zidane [would be my pick].”
Gascoigne tried to talk Keane’s head off
Gascoigne was heavily linked with United during his prolific playing career and Ferguson famously opened up about his failed attempts to sign the ex-England star.
The former Newcastle and Tottenham star recalled his experience of playing against a younger Keane and how he told him that he was his “worst nightmare.”
Speaking to Jamie Redknapp in 2021, Gascoigne told The Daily Mail: “Years ago, when I played against Roy Keane, they were saying he was the new kid on the block.
“In the tunnel, I went to Keane, ‘Welcome to your worst nightmare.’ I talked to him for 90 minutes. I was saying, ‘I’m going out with ya wife.’
“He said, ‘I’m not married.’ I said, ‘Aye, she’s there in the stands.’ He’d look up and I’d just go off with the ball.
“He went to the newspapers afterwards, ‘Thank God that game’s over, I’ve never been talked to so much in my life.’
“I’d talk and talk and talk. ‘How are you doing? Where you from? What you doing tonight? What you doing tomorrow?’”
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