Roy Keane’s Man Utd farewell speech after bitter fallout with Sir Alex Ferguson in 2005-06 | OneFootball

The way in which Roy Keane’s time at Manchester United came to an abrupt end will always be a huge shame.

Tension between Keane and Sir Alex Ferguson had been brewing for several weeks after the Irishman’s damning MUTV interview following Man Utd’s shock 4-1 defeat away at Middlesbrough in October 2005.

While the interview has never been broadcast – indeed, the club sought to destroy all copies of the recording – we know that Keane tore into several of his teammates including Darren Fletcher, Kieran Richardson and Rio Ferdinand.

Keane was subsequently fined £5,000 and it proved to be the beginning of the end of his long and successful working relationship with Ferguson.

On Friday 18th November, 2005, the shocking news broke that Keane had sensationally left United by ‘mutual consent’.

It soon transpired that Keane and Fergie had been involved in a blazing row at Old Trafford.

Not only was Keane informed that he wasn’t wanted for a reserve game against West Brom, but he was also being stripped of the captaincy, per a report from The Guardian at the time.

“The meeting in the room was horrendous,” Ferguson recalled years later.

“Of course I was upset: I did shed a few tears in my car for about two minutes,” Keane has since admitted in the years since his departure. “But I also told myself I had to get on with my life.

“I walked out with nothing, I had no club lined up and I was injured.”

Just a few weeks later, though, Keane signed a deal with Celtic and resumed his career in the Scottish top flight.

Roy Keane’s farewell to Man Utd in 2006

And at the end of the season, Keane was given the opportunity to say goodbye to the United fans with a testimonial involving his current side and former club.

Man Utd sealed a 1-0 win thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo’s second-half goal and Keane, who wasn’t involved in any staged photo opportunities with Ferguson, addressed the crowd after the final whistle.

Footage shows Keane and Ferguson awkward exchanging a few private words before the Irishman took the mic and addressed the fans.

“I haven’t really got too much to say,” Keane began, “I’d just like to thank first of all the United and Celtic fans for showing up – thank you.

“I’d like to thank the players. I know it’s been a long season, probably this is the last thing they needed, but I do appreciate it – thanks very much.

“That’s it, really. I hope you’ve had a great night. It’s something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. All the best.”

A typically understated speech there from one of United’s greatest ever players.

But you can clearly tell that he was still hurting about the unceremonious manner in which he was dumped by Fergie on that ill-fated day six months earlier.

“The fact he didn’t thank the manager spoke volumes,” wrote fan Sean Adepoju in the YouTube comments.

Another viewer wrote: “The body language with Sir Alex was telling and Roy was definitely biting on his lip at the end to stop himself from being emotional.”

“It’s so sad how bitter the ending was between Fergie and Keano,” said another.

While Anton Raphael wrote: “Didn’t say too much because of the way he was treated by Ferguson and the club. Simple as that really.”

And another viewer said: “Fergie is undoubtedly one of the GOAT managers, but he treated so many Man Utd legends like trash.”

Ruud van Nistelrooy was banned from Roy Keane’s testimonial

On a related note, Ruud van Nistelrooy was banned from attending Keane’s testimonial after falling out with Ferguson.

“For me it’s painful,” United’s legendary Dutch striker told reporters at the time. “I wanted to respect Roy. I wasn’t allowed to really so that is painful, that is the most painful thing.”

Will Keane and Ferguson ever settle their differences?

Unlike Keane, though, Van Nistelrooy picked up the phone years later and apologised to Ferguson. They were able to move forward.

Keane and Fergie, on the other hand, have never had such a conversation and it seems increasingly unlikely that the pair will ever settle their differences.