Roy Keane and Peter Schmeichel Feud: United Legend Defends Youngster in Boot Room Clash
The long-standing animosity between Manchester United icons Roy Keane and Peter Schmeichel is legendary, and a revealing incident highlights just how deeply rooted their rivalry was. This story, recounted by former academy player Dessie Baker, illustrates a moment where Keane’s protective nature clashed with Schmeichel’s demanding demeanor, all in defense of a young hopeful at the club.
Keane and Schmeichel’s fractured relationship is no secret. Their clashes, both verbal and physical, are well-documented, and Keane himself famously labeled the Danish goalkeeper as “overrated” on a recent episode of ‘The Overlap’ in 2024. However, the roots of this tension stretch back to their playing days, with a pre-season tour incident in 1998 serving as a particularly telling example.
During that tour, a young Dessie Baker, fulfilling the customary duties of an academy player, found himself at the center of a confrontation between the two United giants. Like many young players aspiring to break into the first team, Baker was tasked with chores for senior players, including cleaning boots. It was an issue with the cleanliness of Schmeichel’s boots that ignited a spark between the goalkeeper and the fiery Keane.
According to Baker, this incident showcased Keane’s immediate willingness to stand up for those he felt were being unfairly treated. Let’s delve into the details of this dressing room drama:
- The Boot Cleaning Task: Dessie Baker, a young academy player, was responsible for cleaning the first-team players’ boots.
- Schmeichel’s Complaint: Peter Schmeichel was unhappy with how Baker had cleaned his boots.
- The “Irish” Remark: Schmeichel called out to Baker using the term “Irish” in the dressing room, packed with senior players, and questioned the boot shine, asking “Can I see my face in these boots?”.
- Baker’s Nervousness: Feeling intimidated and overwhelmed in front of the first team, Baker admitted to being panicky and nervous.
- Schmeichel’s Demand: Schmeichel instructed Baker to “Do them properly,” and to bring him “some tea and toast” further asserting his seniority and expectations.
- Keane’s Intervention: Roy Keane, witnessing the interaction, immediately stepped in to defend Baker.
Baker described his first real interaction with Keane, highlighting the Irishman’s immediate support. Just as Baker was leaving the dressing room, Keane intervened, calling him back:
Recounting the event to the Irish Mirror, Baker said:
- “I was walking out of the changing room and Roy stood up.”
- “‘Excuse me, Dessie, isn’t it?’ I said, ‘Yeah.’ He said, ‘Come here for a second.’”
- “They never really saw eye to eye, Roy and Schmeichel. It was true. There were always bits and bobs like that happening.”
- “Anyway, Roy pushed back and said, ‘Here, his name is not Irish, it’s f*****g Dessie. If you’ve got a problem with your boots, then tell him, don’t be smart.’”
- “He turned to me. ‘Don’t get him tea and toast, he’ll get his own tea and toast.’”
- “You can imagine my face. I was only a pimply teenager, but you can imagine my face going purple at this stage.”
- “Roy says, ‘Go on, I’ll talk to you later.’”
- “So that was the first encounter I really had with Roy. It was like he was looking after me straight away from the get-go.”
This incident further cemented the image of Roy Keane as a fierce protector of his teammates, regardless of their status within the squad. It also provided another chapter in the ongoing saga of the Roy Keane Peter Schmeichel rivalry, suggesting underlying tensions were always simmering beneath the surface of their successful partnership at Manchester United.
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