Roy Keane’s Three-Year Silence: The Feud That Split United’s Treble Team

Roy Keane’s fiery temperament was legendary during his Manchester United days, but one disagreement went so far that he refused to speak to a teammate for more than three years.

The Irishman, who captained United during their most successful era under Sir Alex Ferguson, was known for his relentless intensity and outspoken nature.

Yet even by his own standards, one internal feud became infamous among those who shared the Old Trafford dressing room.

A tense relationship

According to The Mirror, Keane stopped speaking to striker Teddy Sheringham for years after a heated exchange during their time together at Manchester United.

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Sheringham joined the club in 1997 and was part of the squad that secured the historic treble in 1999.

Sheringham’s arrival also overlapped with fellow forward Andy Cole, a pairing that was already strained.

Cole later revealed that tensions between the strikers and Keane once boiled over following a mistake during a match.

Tempers explode

“Teddy joined Manchester United, that season I remember conceding a goal,” Cole recalled. “He turned around to me and said, ‘That was your fault.’ My head was absolutely steaming then. I got into the dressing room and I lunged at him, I was just about to throw a punch. By the time I realised, Roy (Keane) was trying to fight him.”

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Sheringham later confirmed the confrontation, explaining how Keane turned on him during the heated moment.

“We had a fall out,” Sheringham said. “Keaney turned around and said, ‘Why don’t you f*** off back to London with your f****** Ferrari and your penthouse?’ I went, ‘What are you popping me out for?’ He turned around and grabbed my tie and everyone jumped in and stopped it... He didn’t say a word to me for the next three-and-a-half years.”

Grudges that lasted

Keane’s reputation for holding grudges was well known throughout his career.

In his 2002 autobiography, he briefly referenced the incident without going into detail, noting only: “Teddy arrived for training on his first day at the club in his red Ferrari, every inch the confident Londoner. The chemistry between us was never right.”

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Despite their differences, both players would go on to play key roles in Manchester United’s treble-winning campaign, showing how Ferguson’s side thrived even amid internal friction.

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