Just as Manchester United entered a new and more successful era under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson, Bryan Robson, who had so often carried the team during the 1980s, was nearing the end of his career.
Injuries and age had started to get the better of 'Captain Marvel' and consequently during the 1992-93 season he was only able to make 14 appearances as United won their first league title since 1967.
It meant that Ferguson needed a fresh face in his engine room alongside Paul Ince - a younger Robson: someone who could not only defend and break up attacks, but also score important goals.
Roy Keane was the player that the manager settled on, but the 22-year-old Nottingham Forest midfielder was in advanced talks with Blackburn Rovers. In fact, it is believed that Keane would have signed for Kenny Dalglish's side but it was a Friday night when an agreement was reached and so the club office was closed. Both parties had decided to return on the Monday morning to finalise the deal.
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That is when Ferguson swooped, inviting Keane to join him at his home that weekend. He then proceeded to convince the Republic of Ireland international to turn down Rovers and commit his future to United. Having earlier confirmed the signing - for a then British record fee of £3.75m - United then unveiled Keane 20 years ago today. It would be the start of one of the closest manager-player relationships that the Premier League has ever seen.
The Red Devils won a Premier League and FA Cup double during his first season at Old Trafford, which provided a strong indication of what was to come. The fiery Irishman would end up with seven league titles, four FA Cups, four Community Shields and one Intercontinental Cup during his stint with the club.
He also got his hands on the Champions League trophy back in 1999, but suspension meant that he could not feature against Bayern Munich in the final. Keane has since confessed that he has no idea where his medal is, believing that because he did not play in the final, he is not a European Cup winner.
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There were well-documented dramas along the way, none more so than the tackle that everyone will remember on Alf-Inge Haland. As Keane clutched his damaged knee back in 1996, Haland stood over him and accused him of feigning injury. It was something that the United skipper would not forget and during a match against Manchester City five years later, he took revenge on the Norwegian with a knee-high tackle. For the challenge and subsequent comments that he made in his autobiography about the incident, Keane was banned for eight matches.
The way he left the club in 2005 was also highly controversial. During an interview with MUTV, Keane openly criticised a number of his teammates following a 4-1 defeat away at Middlesbrough. The club decided not to broadcast the piece, but the damage was done and Ferguson decided that his time was up.
He went on to play briefly for his boyhood club Celtic, before retiring in 2006. Management stints with Sunderland and Ipswich Town followed and he is now part of ITV Sport's punditry team.
Liam Apicella
