Alan Smith reckons Manchester United are ‘crying out’ for a leader like Roy Keane, who he admits is probably ‘impossible to replace’.
Keane joined Manchester United in the summer of 1993 from Nottingham Forest for a then-British transfer record of €8.50m.
The hot-headed Irishman became a key piece in the jigsaw for what followed next as Sir Alex Ferguson’s side dominated English football, winning seven Premier League titles among countless other major honors.
His competitive and aggressive attitude helped him boss the United midfield as captain right until his departure in November 2005, making 469 appearances in the process.
Keane’s exploits at Old Trafford earned him a spot among the Premier League’s greatest midfielders. And even nearly 15 years after the skipper’s departure, he’s still sorely missed in Manchester.
Gary Neville, Nemanja Vidic, Wayne Rooney, Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, and now Harry Maguire have donned the captain’s armband since Keane’s exit.
ON THIS DAY: 27 years ago, Roy Keane signed for Manchester United! #MUFC
— United Zone (@ManUnitedZone_) July 19, 2020
But Smith, who played for United between 2004 and 2007, believes nobody has been able to fill his former teammate’s shoes.
“Roy Keane is probably impossible to replace as a player and as a character, especially at Manchester United,” the former striker told United’s official podcast.
“I still don’t think it’s been done now, and it’s been crying out for someone like Roy Keane to be in the dressing room and on the field as Roy was.
“No-one could ever replicate it, so it was [about me] trying to do as good a job in a similar position. It wasn’t like, ‘you’re going to be a Roy Keane’. I could never do that job.”
The 19-time England international also shut down suggestions Keane was overrated as a footballer.
Smith added: “You could ask any player that’s played with him or against him and I’d say 99 percent of them would all have the same answer for you.
“For me, it’s not just a case of Roy being a leader. That’s so disrespectful to him as a footballer as well. You don’t play for Manchester United and captain them based on just being a leader.
“That’s such an unfair criticism of someone who’s probably been one of the Premier League’s greatest central midfield players.”
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