ROY KEANE’S horror tackle on Alf-Inge Haaland during the Manchester derby on April 21 2001 was probably the most deserved red card in Premier League history.
Man City’s Norwegian midfielder Haaland went on to play just 48 more minutes of football in his career following the challenge at Old Trafford.
Keane caught Haaland on the knee with this horrendous challenge in 2001Credit: Sky
The impact sent Haaland flying and pretty much ended his careerCredit: Sky
The long-standing feud between the two players started four years earlier when Keane suffered a cruciate ligament injury when clean through on goal while being chased down by Haaland, who was then playing for Leeds.
United captain Keane got revenge with the knee-high tackle at Old Trafford – for which he later received a £150,000 fine and a five-match ban.
In his autobiography years later, the Irishman said: “He’d done his job. He’d done my head in. He was winding me up from the beginning of the game.
“I know it’s not right, don’t get me wrong. But I’m only human, I was out for a long year that time.
“Even in the dressing room afterwards I had no remorse. My attitude was – f*** him.
Keane berated Haaland while he lay injured on the Old Trafford turfCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Ref David Elleray had no choice but to send off the Man Utd captainCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
The feud started four years earlier when Haaland had a dig at Keane as he lay on the groundCredit: Empics
“But there was no premeditation. I’d played against Haaland three or four times between that game against Leeds in 1997 – when I injured my cruciate – and the game when I tackled him in 2001.
“If I’d been this madman out for revenge, why would I have waited years for an opportunity to injure him?”
In the dressing room afterwards I had no remorse. My attitude was – f*** him
Haaland, whose 19-year-old son Erling has been a target for United, only played six more times for club and country.
Seven years after the incident, the Norwegian admitted: “The knee still hurts, that isn’t going to go away.. I have to accept that.
“Did that tackle end my career? Well, I never played a full game again, did I? “
And if they met again?
Haaland joked: “I’d probably run!
“No. I don’t know what would happen. I wouldn’t have any problem in speaking with him.
“But maybe he would with me.”
For what it’s worth, the Manchester derby ended 1-1.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
