Roy Keane and Michael Carrick’s 12-year feud has escalated after the Sky Sports pundit made controversial comments about the Manchester United interim manager’s wife Lisa
Roy Keane will be an analyst alongside Jamie Carragher on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United interim boss Michael Carrick and Roy Keane could be heading for an uncomfortable reunion on Monday as the former skipper joins Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football coverage.
The legendary Republic of Ireland midfielder has been outspoken since the caretaker manager took charge and despite Carrick’s encouraging beginning at the Old Trafford helm, Keane has remained insistent that United should seek alternatives.
Keane may find himself in a position to interview Carrick, 44, before or after United’s clash with Leeds United during the broadcaster’s coverage fronted by David Jones and Liverpool icon Jamie Carragher. The dispute between the two former midfielders stretches back more than 12 years, when the ex-Middlesbrough manager came under fire following United’s loss to Olympiakos in the Champions League.
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Keane criticised the showing from United and took aim following a post-match interview from the 44-year-old, which the Irishman described as “like the performance, flat”.
Carrick’s wife, Lisa, responded on social media at the time, which was subsequently deleted, saying: ” Roy Keane what a ****, says anything to get a reaction. That’s all done.”
She followed up after the post was removed, acknowledging that emotions got the better of her.
Keane waited 12 years before delivering a response shortly after Carrick’s appointment, following Ruben Amorim’s sacking.
Speaking on The Overlap, he said: “Isn’t it strange, the noises the last few weeks, people saying there needs to be a Man Utd connection? I’m not sure about all that stuff, I’m not sure it necessarily works! When a manager goes in, do you have to go in and have big speeches with the players?
“You go in, say hello, morning. At Sunderland I didn’t speak to the players for about two days when I went in. Just watched training. Keep them all guessing.”, reports the Mirror.
“You don’t have to do a big speech, that’s all very predictable. I thought I’d give them a couple of days just to chill out. His wife can always come in [if Carrick doesn’t do well], cause she’s got a bit of a big mouth sometimes. She’s probably doing the team talk.”
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The 54-year-old has been amongst the former Manchester United players to voice opposition to Carrick assuming control of the club on a permanent basis, alongside Gary Neville.
Speaking following the 3-2 victory over Arsenal in January, Keane said: “Even if they do get into fourth I still wouldn’t be convinced he’s the man for the job. Absolutely not. I still think they need a bigger and better manager.”
The caretaker boss now has seven victories from his first 10 fixtures at the helm of the Old Trafford club, which has enhanced his chances of securing the role on a full-time basis.
Despite his earlier remarks casting doubt over Carrick’s suitability as permanent manager, Keane has since appeared to reverse his previous stance, insisting he now wants him to land the role.
Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast in February, Keane admitted: “I hope they give it [the permanent job] to him.
“I hope they give it to him in the summer.” He did acknowledge that while he hopes Carrick is handed the position, he believes it would be the wrong call for the United hierarchy to make.
Manchester United interim manager Michael Carrick has plenty of history with Roy Keane(Image: 2026 Manchester United FC)
Speaking to Gary Neville, Keane added: “I don’t think it’s the right decision, good luck with it.
“Yeah, but, I’m sticking to my guns. I’ve said my piece, I think that he’s got the job, and if he gets it in the summer then you go ‘listen, good luck to him’, but as a caretaker manager, it’s a different animal to being manager of United trying to win league titles over the next two, three, four, five years, whatever it might be.
“I think you can get a better manager than Carrick, absolutely. But I think he’s doing a good job, perfect timing for him, and even if he doesn’t get the United job, these results a bit like Ruud [Van Nistelrooy], he can get another job, probably another Premiership manager.”
Carrick, for his part, has previously brushed aside the noise emanating from pundits. He said: “They’re not putting more pressure on me. I don’t feel that.
“There are plenty of opinions around, some positive, some not too much. It’s totally irrelevant in terms of what I focus on. There’s a lot that can be said, it’s the way of the world. I’m not going to pay too much attention to that. For me, the players and staff, we focus on how we’re going to succeed.”
