Roy Keane's new book: 7 scathing quotes about Alex Ferguson

Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane (left) gives a no-holds-barred account of his time at Old Trafford, especially when striking back at former manager Sir Alex Ferguson. -- PHOTO: REUTERS
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane (left) gives a no-holds-barred account of his time at Old Trafford, especially when striking back at former manager Sir Alex Ferguson. -- PHOTO: REUTERS

IN his new autobiography The Second Half to be released on Thursday, former Manchester United captain Roy Keane gives a no-holds-barred account of his time at Old Trafford.

The 43-year-old minces no words according to leaked extracts of the publication, especially when striking back at former manager Sir Alex Ferguson, who had earlier criticised Keane in his own book.

Ferguson, a former player who managed the club from 1986 to 2013, is widely revered as one of the most successful football managers, scoring 38 trophies during his term, including 13 Premier League and two UEFA Champions League titles.

Here are seven of the most withering quotes from Keane about Fergie.

About Ferguson as a manager:

1) "I worked under two great managers and I put Brian Clough ahead of Alex Ferguson for a simple reason. What was the most important thing in my football career? Brian Clough signing me. That kick started everything.

Different managers, both brilliant. I think Clough's warmth was genuine. I think with Sir Alex Ferguson it was pure business - everything is business.

If he was being nice I would think: 'This is business, this'."

2) "He was driven and ruthless. That lack of warmth was his strength. United was a much bigger club than Forest but his coldness made him successful.

His message was the same. I was never once confused by one of his team talks or his tactics or his training. The message was always fresh.

I must have heard him talk 500 times and I always thought: 'Yeah, that was good'.

I think that's amazing. As a manager I would take Clough's warmth and Ferguson's ruthlessness and put them in the mix - but also add my own traits."

When Ferguson tried to break up a fight between Keane and then-assistant manager Carlos Queiroz

3) Ferguson: "That's enough, I've had enough of all this stuff."

Keane: "You as well gaffer. We need f****** more from you. We need a bit more, gaffer. We're slipping behind other teams."

About Ferguson and the club over-reacting to the MUTV video in which he apparently criticised his team mates:

4) "Even now people still say: 'The video had to be destroyed.' Like it was a nuclear weapon or something.

Did someone drive out to the countryside and bury it in the f****** ground? Or did a bomb disposal unit come and explode it? It had to be destroyed."

About leaving Manchester United:

5) "I'd known for a few days they were trying to get rid of me.

I said to Ferguson, 'Can I play for somebody else?' And he said, 'Yeah you can, cos we're tearing up your contract.' So I thought, 'All right - I'll get fixed up.'

I knew there'd be clubs in for me when the news got out. I said, 'Yeah - I think we have come to the end.' I just thought, 'F****** prick' - and I stood up and went 'Yeah. I'm off.'"

About apologising to Ferguson following his exit from the English Premier League club:

6) "Now I kind of wish I hadn't.

I was apologising for what had happened - that it had happened. But I wasn't apologising for my behaviour or stance. There's a difference - I had nothing to apologise for."

"Afterwards I was thinking, 'I'm not sure why I f****** apologised.' I jsut wanted to do the right thing."

About Ferguson's "Rock of Gibraltar" dispute with Irish racehorse tycoons John Magnier and JP McManus:

7) "Somebody I met in Ireland had told me to tell him (Ferguson): 'You are not going to win this.'

I mentioned it to him. And I told him that I didn't think it was good for the club, the manager in a legal dispute with shareholders.

I felt I was entitled to say that. He was just a mascot for them. Walking around with this Rock Of Gibraltar - 'Look at me, how big I am,' - and he didn't even own the bloody thing."

Sources: telegraph.co.uk, dailymail.co.uk, espnfc.com. theguardian.com, independent.ie

yeosamjo@sph.com.sg

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