Manchester United legend Roy Keane has included Sir Alex Ferguson in his personal football 'Mount Rushmore', despite admitting the way his former manager treated him at the end of their time together was 'disappointing'.
Keane's Mount Rushmore
Keane, currently working as a pundit for ITV during the World Cup hosted across North America, was challenged to name the four individuals most significant to him in the sport. He listed Ferguson alongside Diego Maradona, Brian Clough, and Jack Charlton.
Speaking on ITV Football's social media, Keane said: 'The manager I spent most of my time with was Sir Alex Ferguson. Obviously, disappointing the way he treated me at the end. But that's life, I'm not one to hold grudges.'
He added: 'From a younger age, watching players growing up, I loved watching Brazil and Maradona, particularly Zico and Maradona. I'll go with Maradona. As I was getting a bit older and looking for breaks, I'd have to put Brian Clough in there. Giving me the opportunity to go to England and have a career. A big influence on me would have been Jack Charlton. The job that he did with Ireland, and he played in 1994 here [United States]. I was a bit young to maybe appreciate Jack's messages, but I'd put him in there.'
Context of Comments
Keane's remarks about Ferguson come after the United legend had previously criticised the club's decision-making following the departure of head coach Ruben Amorim. In January, Keane told Sky Sports: 'Who is making the decisions at United, you have still got [Sir Alex] Ferguson and David Gill hanging around like a bad smell. Who is making the decisions? [Sir Jim] Ratcliffe, Wilcox? Who is going into the interview process, getting a feeler for them and saying, "this is the guy for us".'
Despite the past tensions, Keane's latest comments show a more conciliatory tone as he acknowledges Ferguson's impact on his career.
