Roy Keane was public enemy number one at Leeds United during his playing career, enjoying several ill-tempered clashes at Elland Road in the 1990s and early 2000s.
Nicky Butt recently named two former Leeds men in his worst opponents to face on a football pitch, to highlight the magnitude of the rivalry between the two sides.
This echoed Keane’s own assessment of David Batty and Gary Speed, who he described as “nasty” players when asked a similar question in 2019.
Daniel Farke will get his first taste of the rivalry when Leeds face Man Utd on the 3rd January 2026, 16 years to the day since Jermaine Beckford scored his famous winner in the FA Cup at Old Trafford.
Now, Keane has used the atmosphere at Elland Road to dismiss Gary Neville’s claim that the Ryder Cup is one of the highest-pressure environments in sport.
Roy Keane uses Leeds United atmosphere to dismiss Gary Neville claim
Speaking on the Overlap podcast, Keane and his former Man Utd teammate, Neville, were locked in a debate about the recent Ryder Cup, in which the American fans were overtly hostile towards their European opponents.
According to Neville, the scenes in the tournament were so intense, they convinced him that the competition was one of the most high-pressure sporting competitions in the world.
Neville said: “I thought [the Ryder Cup] was one of the highest pressure environments you could put in sport when you’re thinking about sort of the putts that were going in and the sort of atmosphere.”
However, Keane dismissed this suggestion, stating his belief that the hostility the Europeans faced was nothing in comparison to a trip to Leeds on a Tuesday night, arguing: “So you tell me, right, I’m no expert in golf. I don’t play the game, but I watch top-level sport.
“So you’re saying the pressure on these players is because some people were shouting. Become a footballer and go to Leeds or Anfield on a Tuesday night, let me tell you. These guys play in big tournaments every week. So all of a sudden, they’re going to be upset by a few Yanks.
“You’ve got McIlroy. McIlroy’s won all the big prizes. Do you think he’s going to be upset by a few people? It’s ridiculous.”
- READ MORE: John Lukic joined an exclusive Leeds United club on this day with landmark appearance vs Arsenal
When did Leeds United last beat Manchester United in the Premier League?
Although Leeds completed their famous victory over their arch-rivals in the FA Cup, the wait for a league win against the Red Devils now stretches back over two decades.
Leeds failed to claim a single win over Man Utd in their last spell in the top flight. They came closest in a 0-0 draw under Marcelo Bielsa in 2021 and a 2-2 draw under interim manager Michael Skubala, following the dismissal of Jesse Marsch.
Leeds’ recent Premier League record vs Man Utd
- 12/02/2023 – Leeds 0-2 Man Utd
- 08/02/2023 – Man Utd 2-2 Leeds
- 20/02/2022 – Leeds 2-4 Man Utd
- 14/08/2021 – Man Utd 5-1 Leeds
- 25/04/2021 – Leeds 0-0 Man Utd
- 20/12/2020 – Man Utd 6-2 Leeds
You have to go back to September 2002 for Leeds’ last victory in the Premier League against Man Utd, when Harry Kewell scored the only goal of the game.
However, with Man Utd struggling for form and Leeds looking solid this season, there is cause for optimism that this run can come to an end in 2026.
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox
