Sir alex ferguson ,The former manchester united manager has used his new
autobiography to claim Keane, now a
pundit, "thought he was Peter Pan"
by the time the pair fell out spectacularly in
2005 and that his departure
"Was the best thing that could have happened" to united
The book does not spare Wayne Rooney -
"not the quickest learner" - or David
Beckham, either, and confirms Ferguson
was twice offered the England job as the
recently retired Scot settles some old scores.
His animosity towards Keane has shown
no sign of subsiding in the eight
Years since their row erupted.
Their relationship began to fracture as the
midfielder became increasingly outspoken
about his team-mates during a lengthy
period on the sidelines due to injury and
finally broke down when he gave an
explosive interview to the club's TV
channel.
The now infamous MUTV interview has
never been aired on the channel but
Ferguson claim that Edwin Van der Sar,
Paul Scholes and Ruud van Nistelrooy
were among the players who walked out
when they were shown it privately.
The 71-year-old recalls Keane and
Van Nistelrooy having to be pulled apart in a
separate incident: "His [Keane's] eyes
started to narrow, almost to wee black
beads. It was frightening to watch,
and I'm from Glasgow."
But after the MUTV interview, Ferguson
says he could not get Keane out quickly
enough. He told his assistant, Carlos
Queiroz, at the time: "He needs to go,
Carlos. 100 per cent. Get rid of him."
Ferguson, in his book, said: "In one deep
sense, him leaving was the best thing
that could have happened, because a lot
of players were intimidated by him."
The Scot's ruthlessness as well as his
man-management skills were a major
factor in his success at Old Trafford
and won him many admirers.
The Football Association have been
among them and he claims they twice
offered him the England manager's job -
before Kevin Keegan was appointed in
1999 and again before Sven Goran
Eriksson took charge in 2001.
However, Wayne Rooney will have
a different opinion of Ferguson's managerial ability.
They fell out last season and the Scot has
not made any easier for his successor,
David Moyes, to repair the damage
with the detail in his book.
Ferguson said Rooney is "not the quickest
learner" and claims the striker, who had
to be dropped after a drinking incident
two years ago, was not fit enough
to last a full game last season.
The book also repeats the former
manager's assertion that the England
international "wanted away" last term,
which was a key factor in the player's
unhappiness with the club.
Ferguson, outspoken as ever, says the
way Rooney backed down after his 2010
contract also "made him look like a
money man, and there was a residue of
mistrust with the fans".
Beckham, who famously fell foul of Fergie
in a spectacular dressing-room bust-up,
was described as "the only player I
managed who chose to be famous, who
made it his mission to be known outside the game."
Ferguson insists he holds no grudge
against Beckham but things were
different when their relationship broke down in 2003.
In his new book, Ferguson said: "He was
12 feet from me. Between us on the floor
lay a row of boots. David swore. I moved
towards him and as I approached I kicked a boot.
"It hit him right about the eye. Of course
he rose to have a go at me and the
players stopped him. 'Sit down,' I said.
'You've let your team down. You can
argue as much as you like'."
Two days later the story broke Beckham
wore an Alice band in public to highlight
his injury. Ferguson reacted decisively. "I
told the board he had to go," he said.
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