A Longstanding Rivalry: The Feud Between Roy Keane and Jason McAteer

The rivalry between Roy Keane and Jason McAteer originated during the 2002 World Cup, when Keane left the Republic of Ireland squad prior to the tournament after a dispute with manager Mick McCarthy.

Disappointed with the training facilities and nutritional plans offered to the team, Keane departed, while McAteer chose to support McCarthy at that time. In his autobiography, Keane characterized McAteer as “too fond of himself for my liking, more interested in hair gel and nightclubs than winning football matches.”

Their contentious relationship was further exacerbated during a Premier League match between Manchester United and Sunderland in August 2002, which ended in a 1-1 draw. The two players engaged in a heated battle throughout the game, culminating in Keane receiving a red card after an altercation with McAteer. McAteer later remarked that he knew which “buttons to press” to provoke Keane.

For the past two decades, Keane and McAteer have remained embroiled in their feud, frequently exchanging barbs in the media. In a recent appearance on the quiz show ‘Call Yourself A Fan,’ McAteer recounted the moment they clashed on the pitch. He stated, “We didn’t speak for 20 years and went back and forth in the media; I’d hammer him so he’d hammer me back.”

Recalling the incident, McAteer said, “He had just published his book in which he criticized me. During the match, I told him to ‘put it in your book, kn*bhead.’ With a minute left, he retaliated with an elbow and received a red card, and we didn’t speak for the next 20 years.”

Recently, however, there have been signs of reconciliation, facilitated in part by former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. McAteer shared a poignant moment from about six months ago when he encountered Keane at a café. After a brief interaction, Keane discreetly paid for McAteer’s bill. Reflecting on the moment, McAteer expressed, “I got emotional as I thought, had I wasted 20 years? Because he’s actually alright, you know.”

Following this encounter, McAteer reached out to Carragher for Keane’s contact number, only to be met with Keane’s response: “Roy said he accepts the thank you, but you can f*ck off, you’re not having his phone number!”

While it appears that some tension has eased between them, whether they will share a platform as pundits or enjoy a casual meeting over tea remains uncertain. Keane continues to be as confrontational as ever, recently criticizing Michael Carrick’s wife for her outspoken nature following Carrick’s appointment as United’s interim manager. In contrast, McAteer remains active in media punditry, appearing on platforms such as talkSPORT, LFCTV, and beIN Sports. He retired from professional football in 2007, having played for several clubs, including Liverpool, Sunderland, Bolton Wanderers, Blackburn Rovers, and Tranmere Rovers, and earned 52 caps for the Republic of Ireland, scoring three goals.