Every word from Roy Keane's notorious MUTV rant, 17 years on

Roy Keane's never been afraid to speak his mind.

But in October 2005, it was to his detriment and led to his departure from Manchester United after more than a decade of success.

Following a dismal 4-1 defeat to Middlesbrough at The Riverside, The Red Devils' official TV channel MUTV turned straight to an injured Keane to get his take on the game.

He started by questioning defender Rio Ferdinand, who didn't enjoy the best of 90 minutes in the North East.

"I have seen that happen to Rio before," Keane said. "Just because you are paid £120,000 a week and play well for 20 minutes against Tottenham you think you are a superstar."

The Irishman's attack didn't stop there. He then went on to question a number of Sir Alex Ferguson's starting eleven.

Edwin van der Sar: "He should have saved that (a 30-yard goal from Gaizka Mendieta). That was saveable."

John O'Shea: "He's just strolling around when he should have been busting a gut to get back."

Darren Fletcher: "I can't understand why people in Scotland rave about Darren Fletcher."

Kieran Richardson: "He is a lazy defender who deserved to get punished. He wasn't doing his job."

Alan Smith: "What is he doing there? He is wandering around as if he is lost. He doesn't know what he is doing."

Roy Keane was sent off for his infamous challenge on Alf-Inge Haaland (Image: PA)

The former Nottingham Forest man had plenty to say about the squad's mix of experienced and young players too.

"When they [the young players] sign the contracts, they think they have made it. They owe it to the manager, the staff and the fans. They think they have made it. They haven't."

"The younger players have been let down by some of the more experienced ones - they are not leading. There is a shortage of characters.

"I am sick of having to say it and they are sick of listening to me. They have let down the club, the manager, and the fans.

I wasn't surprised by the result, I had been expecting one like this. The players have been asked questions and they are just not coming up with the answers."

The interview didn't go down well with the powers that be at Old Trafford. Keane was fined £5,000 and the club did all they could to destroy any copies.

It also paved the way for the midfielder's exit from the club and the deterioration of his relationship with his manager, something that is still in tatters.

Roy Keane (PA)

"He criticised his team-mates, Sir Alex Ferguson said in his autobiography. "We could not release that video. It ended up with two young players being booed in Paris [against Lille] on the Wednesday.

"The meeting in the room was horrendous. I just could not lose my control in that situation. If I had let it pass I think the players would have viewed me differently.

"Roy absolutely overstepped the line. There was nothing else we could do."

Topics: Manchester United, Roy Keane

James Aldred