As one of the biggest football clubs in the world, Manchester United are proud to have had many of the world’s best players turning out for them over the decades.
From the heroes of yesteryear like Sir Bobby Charlton and George Best to more contemporary icons like Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney, their history books are full of legends.
With 20 English titles and three European Cups to their name, many of those who have represented Manchester United are among the greatest in history.
David Beckham is one such icon, having played for the Red Devils along with the likes of Real Madrid, AC Milan and Paris Saint-Germain.
Last year, Beckham named his all-time five-a-side team, composed of former teammates, and one Man United player made the cut.
David Beckham picks Manchester United legend Roy Keane in his all-time five-a-side team
In October last year, Beckham was interviewed by former Man United and England teammate Rio Ferdinand on the iconic defender’s YouTube channel.
When asked about the five best teammates he had played with, Beckham gave a who’s who of football legends, and Roy Keane made the cut.
“I’m gonna say Keaney,” Beckham said. “You know, you need a leader and you need someone that’s gonna actually tackle and fight and be the player that he is, so I’m gonna have to say Keaney.
“You know what, he took no day off, and I don’t mean in the physical sense of having a day off. I mean, every single day that he stepped on that training pitch, he wanted to win.
“Whether it was at the keep ball game or the heading game, he inspired us every single day because he came in with that mentality and we all knew that’s what we have to cope with.
“That’s the level that we have to reach and that’s why Keaney was who he was because he was a winner and he was hungry and he always wanted to win.”
Beckham also picked Roberto Carlos, Paolo Maldini, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo Nazario in his all-time five-a-side team.
Roy Keane’s career
Keane began his football journey in the Republic of Ireland with local youth club Rockmount before joining Cobh Ramblers in 1989.
He was scouted by Nottingham Forest, who he joined in 1990, and three years later he joined Man United for a then British record fee of £3.75million.
At Old Trafford, Keane developed into one of the best midfielders in world football, getting his hands on seven Premier League titles and the Champions League.
Keane also lifted four FA Cups, an Intercontinental Cup and four Charity Shields at Man United. He also won 67 caps for the Republic of Ireland.
Keane joined Celtic in December 2005, where he won the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Cup, before retiring in the summer of 2006 on medical grounds.
Arsenal icon Ian Wright also praised Keane in the past, saying he’s the most intense player he’s ever gone up against.
