If you were asked to name Roy Keane’s fiercest on-pitch rival, you’d probably go straight for Patrick Vieira. After all, their legendary bust-ups defined an era of Premier League football—two leaders, toe-to-toe, never backing down. But when Keane was recently asked who the toughest opponent of his career was, he didn’t even flinch. And it wasn’t Vieira.
“I’m not going to say Vieira, no,” Keane told ITV earlier this month, with that trademark smirk. “Truthfully, I’d say Zidane.”
Zinedine Zidane. The elegant destroyer. A player who could glide past defenders like they weren’t there, then smash one into the top corner a second later. For Keane—who built a career on physical dominance and midfield grit—Zidane’s mix of flair, strength, and edge made him a nightmare to deal with.
“He’s a big strong boy, technically brilliant, very aggressive, scored on the big occasions,” Keane explained. “So Zidane would be the toughest player I’ve played against.”
It wasn’t just talk. The pair met four times in the Champions League, with the honours split evenly. But one of those Keane wins came in that famous 3-2 away victory against Juventus during United’s 1999 treble-winning campaign. Keane was immense that night—he even got himself suspended for the final to drag his team to it. But Zidane still left a lasting impression.
Still, the Vieira rivalry lingers in fans’ minds for a reason. Whether it was tunnel spats, full-blooded tackles, or epic midfield duels, it was always box office. But Keane’s never denied the impact it had on him—and the respect he eventually developed for the Arsenal icon.
“When players like Patrick come along, they bring the best out of you,” Keane said during Vieira’s appearance on The Overlap. “You’d have to bring your best game, your A-game.”
“Who won more battles? Hard to say. Patrick had his good days, and I had some good days too. But I think the clashes were good. I certainly enjoyed them.”
And in classic Keano style, he wrapped it up with a line that says everything about his approach to football:
“I think the battles I had with [Vieira] were honest. There was nothing sneaky about it. You hit me, I hit you, and we got on with it.”
No nonsense. No drama. Just two titans clashing in the middle of the park.
Zidane might’ve been the toughest. But Vieira? He was the fire that kept Keane sharp.
