I played under Roy Keane and I loved it – Man Utd hardman was a great manager but some players just couldn’t handle him

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Roy Keane was a "great" manager but some stars couldn't "handle" him, one former player has claimed.

Keane has not held a coaching role for over four years since his brief stint with Nottingham Forest where he worked as an assistant in 2019.

The former midfielder managed Sunderland as well as Ipswich and then worked as a coach for the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and of course Forest.

Kieran Richardson played with the ex-Ireland international for three years at United and then worked under him at the Stadium of Light during the 2007-2008 season.

And Richardson insists the controversial star did a brilliant job at the Black Cats.

The ex-England international remembers Keane as the same man everyone sees on Sky Sports every week talking about "standards".

The former full-back admits the 52-year-old rubbed a few people the wrong way but he always looked to get the best out of his players, just like he did with his team-mates at United as captain.

Richardson exclusively told Ladbrokes Fanzone: "Playing for Roy, having played with him at Man United, it wasn't weird for me.

"He just felt like my captain again, really. As you see every week on TV with Roy, he just talks about standards.

"With Roy, he was a great captain and, for me, he was a great manager.

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"Some players just can't handle the way he is. But he doesn't ask you for much, he just wants you to get the basics right.

"Run more than anyone else, and graft, and the rest takes care of itself. That's all he ever asked of us as players.

"I loved playing for Roy, and I loved him as a captain. You will not get any better than him as a captain, any player, at any club in the world.

"No one comes close to Roy. He required the highest levels from his team-mates. He wanted the best of the best, from the best. And that was what he got out of his team-mates at Man United.

"He was very similar as a captain and as a manager. I loved it, because I'm one of those players who likes to be told. Some players don't like it, some go the other way."