The Premier League has witnessed a great number of rivalries across its 25-year history and few will ever be quite as intense as Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira’s.The late nineties and early noughties saw regular, fiery encounters between the two main title challengers – Manchester United and Arsenal. And their dogged fights for the league were no more personified than by their defensive midfielders.Both Keane and Vieira are two of English football’s greatest in their role with tough tackling, screening of back fours and distribution from deep. Both Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger really hit the jackpot with their captures.
SIGN UP NOW
Want to become a GMS writer? Sign up now and submit a 250-word test article: http://gms.to/haveyoursay
It’s fair to say the pair didn’t get on, though, and would regularly clash during the twice-a-season matches at Old Trafford and Highbury. Whether it be barking in each other’s ears, diving in for a late tackle or straight up slapping, you could always expect fireworks.
This was no more the case than in 2005.
The infamous Highbury tunnel bust-up in question has become an iconic memory and perhaps the most enduring image of the 2004-05 campaign.
Keane made a beeline for his French advisory before the game, requiring intervention from referee Graham Poll. Threats to break legs were allegedly exchanged even if the United man’s “he’s not being a nice guy” comment lives longest in the memory.
That’s all well and good and it’s certainly fun to watch back – check it out below – but what was actually the cause?
Well, Keane himself has always maintained that it was Vieira’s treatment of Gary Neville that drove him to speak up. The United right-back has always been evasive on the issue but has finally opened up about it with SoccerAM.
The Sky Sports pundit explained: "It came out of the previous game we played at Old Trafford.
"It was suggested that we were quite tough with [Jose Antonio] Reyes where he got subbed after an hour. I think I'd put a couple on him, I think Phil did and I think Scholesy did. But I got the brunt of it because I was playing against him as a direct opponent.
"I just remember hearing these footsteps behind me and Vieira shouting 'Neville, Neville... You're not going to kick our players out on this pitch today!'
"Roy obviously turned back, heard him and started having a go at him. And he sort of squirted his water bottle towards Roy. Then all hell broke loose."
So it’s true that Neville was indirectly culpable but there is more to the story than previously thought. At least Vieira had a reason for picking on the Englishman, after all.
United got the last laugh however, securing a 4-2 win that was rounded off – naturally – by a John O’Shea chip.
Who was the better midfielder - Keane or Vieira? Let us know by leaving a comment below.