The incredible tale of former Rangers goalkeeper Andy Goram being passed over by Roy Keane during his brief tenure at Old Trafford, a star player for Manchester United. It is evident that Ireland captain Keane did not recognize the former Scotland internationalist when Sir Alex Ferguson signed him in 2001.
Goram, a pivotal character at Ibrox in the 1999s, was a product of the Ibrox culture and their support.
In 2019, Goram discussed the tense situation between the two in the Old Trafford dressing room in an interview with the Anything Goes podcast.
“We simply never had a conversation. Nothing about us was similar. There is a huge difference between his and my beliefs.
In the locker room, I got to know every player; Steve McClaren showed me around. I played cricket with their dad, so I knew the majority of the Nevilles and everything.
And Roy Keane received it, and you know, you shake hands. I asked, “Is there any point?” when he simply gave me a look. He responded, “no.” We also didn’t communicate for three months.
In his memoirs, Goram provided a more thorough account of the encounter with Keane and how their diametrically opposed ideologies prevented them from speaking politely to one another during their time together under Ferguson.
“The eyes of the shark. Gazing at me, emotionless and lifeless. Not extending a handshake. Greetings from Manchester United. In the vein of Roy Keane.
“I was receiving a message from the man who regarded himself as the Reds’ beating heart. As the humiliated United No. 2 Steve McClaren attempted to acquaint his fiery captain with the new on-loan goalkeeper, he simply stared right through me.
I realized right then and there that trying to work with Keane would be futile. Roy had principles that guided his life and convictions that he held onto with a fierce fervor. I, however, had my. I was unfazed by what he had done to me on my first day of work at the world’s most renowned football team.
“I was a Rangers man, and he was a Celtic. He was not fond of me. Story ends here. Alright, it makes sense. After all, throughout my seven years at Ibrox, I’d done enough to earn the enmity of certain Celtic supporters.
“Handshakes were not permitted. At all. The truth is that during my three months at Old Trafford, we did not speak politely to one another.
After Wim Jansen’s team won the league and put an end to the ten, Goram, who passed away in 2022, would depart Rangers at the conclusion of the 1997–1998 campaign. Keane would eventually resign from Celtic, despite a difficult time due to injuries throughout his time there.
Before having to retire, Keane made just 13 appearances for Celtic and scored one goal. Though he was nearing the end of his career, games like this one illustrate how outstanding a player Keane still was. It is unfortunate that fans were only able to watch so few games of him. That season, Keane would help Celtic win both the League Cup and the League—his final two seasons on the field.
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