Sir Alex Ferguson didn't hesitate when naming the one player that could replace Roy Keane in his Man Utd midfield
Sir Alex Ferguson and Roy Keane formed an unbeatable leadership team at Manchester United, delivering title after title and trophy after trophy for more than a decade.
Keane was a mainstay of Man Utd's midfield between 1993 and 2005, winning seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League under Ferguson's management at Old Trafford.
The Republic of Ireland international, now a leading Premier League pundit, proved impossible to replace. Ferguson's ultimate choice in any attempt to do so might have shocked Red Devils supporters had it ever become a reality.
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Ferguson was a big admirer of Arsenal midfielder Patrick Vieira and legendary Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard.
In a contemporary interview with The Sunday Times, reported by Sky Sports and elsewhere, Ferguson revealed that while there had been a tangible interest in Vieira and Gerrard was considered out of reach, Gerrard was the true heir to Keane as the Premier League's best midfield player.
"If you were looking for the player you would replace Keane with, it's Gerrard, without question," said Ferguson.
"He has become the most influential player in England, bar none. Not that Vieira lacks anything, but I think that Gerrard does more for his team than Vieira does."
Merseyside-born Gerrard never won the Premier League and couldn't match Keane for silverware but his direct impact on a pair of FA Cup wins and a very famous Champions League triumph was beyond dispute. He also won the League Cup three times as well as the UEFA Cup in a 17-year professional career at Anfield.
The former Liverpool captain faced Man Utd 35 times, losing 20 times and winning 13. He scored against them nine times in all competitions but it was his all-round game that most drew Ferguson's eye.
"To me, Gerrard is Keane; he is now where Keane was when Roy came to us in 1994," he said in the 2004 interview. "I've watched him quite a lot, and everywhere the ball is, he seems to be there.
"He's got that unbelievable engine, desire, determination. Anyone would take Gerrard. Vieira has done that job for Arsenal for two or three years. But you can see Gerrard rising and rising."
In management, the former Liverpool skipper has won the Scottish title in the dugout and is currently in charge of Saudi Pro League side Al Ettifaq.
Topics: Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Roy Keane, Steven Gerrard, Liverpool, Arsenal, Patrick Vieira
Chris Nee