Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira - Who's the better player? | BBC Sounds

While discussing the top 10 Premier League midfielders, Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer and Micah Richards look back on the rivalry between Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira as they decide who was the better player.
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Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira - Who's the better player? | BBC Sounds
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[@dunphyc3]

I’m an Arsenal fan but have to say it’s criminal how underrated Keane has become since his retirement. There is this myth out there that he was just a hard man leader who was a defensive midfielder. The guy was an amazing player, box to box for most of his career which doesn’t seem to exist anymore. He completely controlled games and always seemed to make the right pass (forward passes). A lot of the time people who perpetrate the myth about Keane aren’t old enough to have seen him play.

[@kevinb9830]

Who underrates him? He's often cited as the best midfielder in Prem history, usually ahead of Vieira

[@benitotommassi5820]

@@kevinb9830 no, you might hear that every now and again but he is mostly drastically underrated. Keane was the best midfielder in Europe for long periods, let alone the premier League. No one dominated games like he did.

[@kevinb9830]

@@benitotommassi5820 Well yes, Vieira did. That's why their rivalry is always cited.

[@_Snapper]

Keane was so underrated technically if he was English he would be held in a higher regard ,Keane over viera all day

[@benitotommassi5820]

@@_Snapper England would have probably won something too.

[@ronanconnellan3802]

Keane got injured Sept 97 united were unbeaten had 12 point lead over arsenal lost league following season he was back they won treble Says it all

[@benitotommassi5820]

Facts.

[@colloquialsoliloquy6391]

Think there was only 1 year in like 6 seasons where utd didn't win the league and that was the year Keane was injured. He also had a season, a SEASON , with a plus 90÷ pass rate!

[@jziffi]

@@benitotommassi5820 I mean, it's not "facts" at all. The distance between Arsenal and United is not going to be 12 points in ** September **. The distance between 1st and 20th is barely going to be 12 points at that early stage.

[@yahyaelmi8435]

They were both good players . Same level . But if I had to take 1 it would Patrick vieria

[@colloquialsoliloquy6391]

@@yahyaelmi8435 viera was quality from about 97 to 03 ,Keane was quality from 92 to 03 .

[@geoemm]

Roy Keane was in the EPL team of the year at the age of 21 playing for a team who finished dead last. I cannot imagine anyone doing that.

[@gurdevsingh4356]

James ward prowse wasn't bad

[@lllyrio]

Scott Parker won player of the year in 2010/11 and being relegated with West Ham who was also last place

[@geoemm]

@@lllyrio Roy Keane was in the EPL team of the year, not just the player of the year for Nottingham forest

[@lllyrio]

@@geoemm ino but surely being the the player of the season is more impressive than being in the team of the season? I dno. Not trynna downplay Roy i thought he was an incredible player and deserved the awards he got and im an Arsenal fan (i did really love watching Roy play he was brilliant) but im just wondering whats more impressive toty or poty?

[@lllyrio]

@@geoemm gotta mention Juninho too. Ino he wasnt in the team of the year deffo deserved to be in it possibly over David Batty although he was jncredible that season but Juninho scoring 13 in 35, doesnt sound impressive really but gotta remember he was a midfielder and Middlesborough only scored 52 that season. He scored 25% of the goals for them from midfield like what?!!

[@devanman7920]

It's so weird how we look back at Keane as just a hard man defensive midfielder. He was later but for most of his career he dominated all the midfield box to box. There was a period he was among the greatest in the world and arguably the best epl midfielder for a fair few years.

[@Enigma3]

i was shocked to see how many goals he scored ... i hardly remember him being mentioned in that regard

[@manusiaganteng2753]

Keane was not only the best midfielder for a few years but the best player in the league for maybe 1-2 years.

[@devanman7920]

@@manusiaganteng2753 Ya I agree!

[@devanman7920]

@@Enigma3 ya I know. He really was box to box but because of how he played later most think of him as more of a CDM

[@manchesterfellow5282]

People expose how casual they are when they believe things like "roy keane was just a tough tackler". Outstanding ability

[@AstroSully]

Literally the best way of telling someone they've never watch a game past the 2010's lol.

[@BOSIE321]

Keane and Vieira were so far above everybody else in that era that the conversation was always about those two being the very best midfielders in England (from about 1996-2003), but Keane's talents on the ball are criminally underrated by people who assume he was just a 'tackler'. In reality his passing accuracy on opta stats was 88-89% EVERY season from 1999-2005 and his passes were mostly forward: Wayne Rooney said Keane was the best passer of the ball he ever played with in terms of getting the ball quickly into the forward's feet. His first touch was fantastic and his awareness and control of the game was what made United tick. People forget that Scholes was an attacking midfielder and only dropped deeper into the playmaking role after Keane left. Until then everything went through Keane. On a side note Vieira actually has more red cards than Keane in the premiership.

[@kwesiosei5100]

Keane all day and night, viera was a massive player but keane was a monster, the year they won the double 96 with "kids" keane the best player in the country, every box ticked as a central midfield player and could play multiple positions, viera looked like he had more flair but keane better all round game, viera was never the best player in the league and not as dominant in the champions league

[@richardsmith9615]

@@kwesiosei5100 Was Keane ever the best player in the league? Cantona was United's best player that season.

[@BOSIE321]

@@richardsmith9615 He won the PFA player of the year award in 2000, and was voted United's best player in the treble season (even finished 6th in the Balon d'or that year)

[@benitotommassi5820]

@@richardsmith9615 arsenal won the double in 98 for one reason; Roy Keane for out for months. He comes back, united win treble.

[@kimweroIsmail]

Viera had even more world cups than Keane,say it out

[@chro1843]

Viera probably technically better but Keane did more to make his team better and improve them overall. I also think Keane had more tenacity and desire to win. Not that Vieira didn't have a huge desire to win, he probed that with his medal haul, I just think Keane hated losing more.

[@Besty66]

Excellent comment sir. Keane hated losing more than anyone I've ever seen in any walk of life and that's what drove him on to win. It was probably that same attitude that restricted his managerial career, he couldn't accept that any player at any level was ok with losing. He definitely got the best out of himself as a player because of his strong mentality.

[@paulearl8203]

Roy Keane led an Ireland side to World Cups. He dominated Portugal and Holland on the way to an unbeaten qualification to the World Cup. He scored more goals then Veira for club and country, he won more premier leagues. He was a much better performer in the cl. He dominated prime Zidane in Turin. He effectively won the war with big pat.

[@rajendranadarajan8931]

I've been a United fan for almost 4 decades now. I believe Vieira is the better player while Roy played with better teammates.

[@toastertwo]

Gobshite

[@daraspeight357]

like arseal had no good players..jog on son

[@jedsithor]

In his younger days, Keane was a proper marauding midfielder, making runs into the box, getting goals, playing one-twos. He was also great at fizzing the ball between the lines and rarely lost the ball. On a technical level, Keane was a damn good player. People talk about Vieira's technical ability, which was great, but Keane was no slouch in that department. Add to that his drive, his defensive work and perhaps most importantly his ability to get his teammates to play above themselves and you have the makings of an outstanding footballer. Keane is a player who made other players better and that's priceless. When it comes to Keane vs Vieira we're really talking about Man United vs Arsenal with those players being the generals for their respective sides. In that context, there is only one winner. Arsenal won a few battles but United won the war.

[@zofo666]

Viera 100% every game and naturally the better player,Keane 1000% and would die rather than get beat,That is the difference to me!

[@possys2]

keane for me. people seem to remember him after his injury, before he was box to box and better than after his injury. but also vieira was world class. but because of the injury, came back changed his style and won everything, thats why he shades it for me. very close tho

[@Joker-yw9hl]

Vieira's play was nice on the eye at times but Keano all day for me. If you watch back some of the games or highlights of that era, it's Keane who's not only tackling/intercepting/breaking up play but actually getting United moving forward. Showed up in the big games and actually has less red cards than Patrick

[@fabriziocamisani5477]

Vieira had a lot going for him that Keane didn't have but their careers are over now and if I review them carefully I would say Vieira was potentially better, but Keane has been far more consistent.

[@emmetturley9932]

you have no evidence keane always came out on top v him

[@trekunda]

I'm an Arsenal fan, and I must admit it's a very difficult decision. I really enjoyed their rivalry too

[@andyjamesryan]

Keane won the rivalry definitively in the Highbury tunnel. After words were exchanged it was Keane and United that won the match, in style. It closed the argument for me. The top two midfielders in PL history in my view. If you combined them in a midfield they win against any other two you can pick, they dominated games.

[@game1414]

Don’t share that view. Each to to their own though

[@daayms]

totally agree, that said it all really. a gauntlet was laid down in the tunnel. If viera was actually top dog arsenal would have won the game but they didnt, and it didnt even feel close on the day. utd strolled to victory on the day and viera was extremely quiet. you hear a lot of this viera was 6'4, a specimen. so he looked more dominant but its not about appearence, at that level its mental fortitude and keane edged it there which is why over all utd won more than aresnal during that period

[@marwanhisham233]

Utd won that match because of the referee although i agree that keane is better overrall

[@xxballer099gfxxzz3]

Lol I remember when Keane smacked shearer and shearer just stared him down, top lad al.

[@lurchlocker89]

It was more of a push really

[@RadioNul]

Shearer knew the ref would keep him safe

[@TheOgapatapata]

Shearer was shook to death

[@jedsithor]

He missed. I think Keane joked once that one of his big regrets is that he didn't connect with that hit. 🤣

[@ffjd1]

Keane all day long, besides all his other attributes, his ability keep all players at consistent high standard, was second to none,

[@thebackstepobserver109]

Keane and Vieira were the only 2 midfielders who were able to play dual role of a defensive midfielder and controlling midfield in 1 player. They could win 95% games playing in a 2 man center midfield against opposition 3 man midfields. United had to play both carrick as a defensive midfielder and scholes as a controlling midfielder together to replace Keane. But both Keane and Vieira's ability to control a midfield like Tony Kroos does and not require another midfielder to do the defensive role along with them is criminally underatted.

[@greatestgoals2617]

I`m not a united fan but Vieira played at keanes level for 4 maybe 5 years max....but keane saw him off until he retired. He also saw off everyone else he diced with in that position for the 5 years previous when Vieira was a young teen in france.....Keane was better hands down, he played against him one final time in Ireland against france in 2005 and bossed both Vieira AND Zidane in that game at 34 (Vieira was 29 ) and if you want to discuss his younger years he was a box to box explosion until his injury at 27. People can forget, but he was in the top 3 midfielders in the world for a few years and was the best in 99/00.....He was immense, absolutely immense

[@tillycarlow6643]

Vieira was a better technical player, Keane was a more effective team player. Both were the heartbeat of their respective teams so similar in that regard. Keane edges it for me as he probably achieved more with less.

[@jedsithor]

I know you said Keane edges it for you but I actually think you're underestimating how good he was. Keane was very good technically. His pass accuracy was incredibly high and keep in mind, his whole thing was about passing forward, not sideways or backwards. He rarely ever lost the ball and in his younger days especially, he would play one twos, make runs and score goals. All of that is on top of what people tend to think of Keane, him being a driving force, midfield general etc. He was so much more than that. As Scholes became more prominent in setting the tempo, Keane adjusted his game to accommodate him and they complimented each other brilliantly. People tend to think of Scholes as the technically gifted one of the two and he certainly was more technically gifted than Keane but Keane was very technically gifted too. Was Vieira a better technical player than Keane? He might shade it but it's a lot closer than people tend to think and in every other aspect, Keane. Plus, in the end, Keane won the war.

[@FootkerSnookball]

There's nothing particularly special for me about being a 3 time ChampionsLeague quarter-finalist, especially when you look at some of the clubs Vieira played in. So it's got to be Keane, he scored in 2 CL semi-finals and won way more PL's & won way more of the head-to-head battles and beat Vieira 6-1. I get Vieira was 5 years younger but I still think Keane.

[@dalegrant9282]

What? They played 20 times against each other, Keane won 7, Vieira won 7, and 6 were draws

[@dalegrant9282]

Vieira also won a Euros so he’s outdone Keane on the European level too

[@FootkerSnookball]

@dalegrant9282 Great achievement to win a Euro's as a Senegalese player, literally against all odds lol he tells RoyKeane he never walked out on his country after Keane's WC02 fiasco but Vieira did walk out on his real one but I suppose he did help Senegal out actually at WC02 😆 ManUtd Highbury 96/97 (Keane stand-in captain, Vieira gave ball away for ManUtd's 2nd goal). 1-2 to ManUtd VillaPark FAcup SF 98/99 (Vieira gave ball away for ManUtd's winning goal). 1-2 to ManUtd Highbury 99/00 (Keane scored brace, Vieira didn't score). 6-1 to ManUtd OldTrafford 00/01 (Keane scored, Vieira didn't). 2-4 to ManUtd Highbury 04/05 (Vieira scored but lost, Keane was involved in both Ronaldo goals). I don't know where you got the 7 wins for Vieira from. Even including games Keane didn't play (including both 97/98 games) Arsenal only beat ManUtd 6 times out of the 18 PL games they would've played in Vieira's 9 seasons at Arsenal and Vieira didn't play in the 1-0 win for Arsenal in 2000/01. Are you counting the FAcup final 2005 where ManUtd battered Arsenal if anything that game goes against Vieira not in favour. It should've been another 6-1 (without Arsenal's 1 as you realistically need to have a shot to get a goal). Vieira never really thrashed Keane. He had 1 home 3-0 win against 10 man ManUtd with the 3rd goal being offside. The FAcup SF 99 first game (0-0) was actually a win for ManUtd Keane scored a perfectly legit goal. The 2-2 at Highbury 2002/03 both of Arsenal's goals were offside, both ManUtd goals were legitimate and by the way I know Keane didn't play in the 2-0 win earlier that season but the fact PhilNeville bossed Vieira is embarrassing for Patrick (although P.Neville is underrated). The 1-1 draw Feb 99 ManUtd should've won easily Yorke had a bad day. I know you weren't including C.Shield games but 1999/00 ManUtd were winning and Vieira got away with murder that game. He was diving all over the place he had tried to win a pen by diving with zero contact and he somehow was not cautioned and then he later won Arsenal a pen from another dive/exaggeration which swung game around. He also escaped a sending off for assaulting NickyButt.

[@dalegrant9282]

@@FootkerSnookball bro you need a new focus on life good luck with it

[@FootkerSnookball]

@dalegrant9282 So your tactics are, disagree with facts that you don't like to be true, hope someone doesn't actually take you on properly and if they do pretend they're sad for knowing their facts? I have plenty of things in my life I actually don't watch football like I used to in the era in question I'm not as obsessed with it I follow it still but don't have to watch so many games live you probably watch more live football than me nowadays but I have great knowledge and memory. Your much shorter messages probably barely took you any less time to write I think I just have a quicker brain than you sorry.

[@expatwealthasia8702]

They were both great players. You would want both of them in your squad any day.

[@ikkyhazard790]

They dont make em like keane and Vieira anymore its crazy monster players both leaders and both goats ❤

[@caleb0388]

Vieira! Man was an absolute unit

[@GamingRobioto]

Vieria for me, but this question has no wrong answer IMO. It's so close

[@colloquialsoliloquy6391]

For me ,what seperates Keane from Viera and Gerrard ,is their impact on their national teams. It's often said that Gerrard didn't have the same level of club teammates as the other two ,but it's also often said that Gerrard rare replicated his club form for England ,despite being in star studded teams. Viera also faded into mediocrity for France albeit with far tougher competition,but Keane was Ireland's only genuine world class player for 5 years ,and not only brought his club form ,but dragged players up a few levels. Keane Gerrard and vieras positive attributes are too close to properly decide that way , but I know for sure ,that at 3 0 up for a quality team I'd want Keane as cpt ,and I'd definitely want him as cpt of an average team that is 3 p down.

[@erlinghakaku9967]

Gerrard Showed up in finals and dragged his team. You said Keane showed up for his country, he also turned his back on them and thre tantrums and was a constant drama queen for them too lol

[@colloquialsoliloquy6391]

@@erlinghakaku9967 lol u butthurt gammon always twist that story to feel better about the fact that Keane was better than Gerrard. No one says scholes,or carragher,or shearer abandoned their country. They accept the reasons and don't twist the facts for childish reasons.

[@samueltukamushaba3577]

The tie breaker for me is that Vieira was more technically gifted than Keane - otherwise, it's a toss up. They epitomised the rivalry between Utd and Arsenal and between Wenger and Fergie. Miss dem ol'days.

[@jedsithor]

Was he though? Keane was a very technically gifted footballer, something he's not given credit for because people focus on his drive and determination. It's a lot closer than you think when it comes to technical abilities and even if Vieira shades it in that regard, Keane comes out on top in every other metric. Vieira was a brilliant player, don't get me wrong, I'm not denigrating him in any way, but ultimately, for all the talk of the rivalry, it was Keane and United that came out on top. They won the "war" so to speak.

[@samueltukamushaba3577]

@@jedsithor I hear you and won’t dispute what you say. But yeah technically I think Vieira was better without a doubt Keane my have exhibited more drive and has his other attributes better than Vieira. And reason Keane almost always came in too was because Utd were generally a better side. Nothing against Keane either - that’s why I have to look for a tie breaker where Vieira was undoubtedly better.

[@adrianwalters2318]

Not even close Keane was a great leader but as a player Viera all day💯

[@laoch5658]

so why did keane get the better of viera ever season bar 2?

[@adrianwalters2318]

@Laoch because he played in a better team does keane have a World Cup medal or a Euros? No he doesn't because Viera played in a better International team!!! Does that make sense mate?

[@ggmm6182]

​@@laoch5658 Absolute nonsense, Viera won the world cup in 1998 and European championship in 2000 and then led France back to the world cup final again in 2006, He was captain of the greatest premier league team in history the invisible arsenal team who didn't lose a game, He then went to Italy and won the Italian league like 3 years in a row with juventus and inter milan, Both Viera and Keane were top class players but for me Viera is the best all round midfielder of the modern era and has the trophy cabinet to back it up in England and in different countries

[@adrianwalters2318]

@@ggmm6182 💯👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@hman3966]

when Lineker says a few cowarded away from Keane was he aiming it at shearer?

[@barrypower6822]

of 🤣🤣course

[@GHOSTDOG637]

Keane was an extremely intelligent footballer who like the really great players could take the pulse of the game and modulate the tempo in a appropriate way to achieve victory. These men aren’t qualified to discuss this level of the game because they didn’t operate at that level.

[@ciaranoconnell4783]

I think I would just pick Vieira because he could also play the very attractive football Wenger wanted. He could interchange with Bergkamp, Henry, Pires, etc....I remember him carving Liverpool apart at Anfield with a great goal as he started the move, then did a third man run as Henry and Pires sliced them open. I really don't remember Keane doing that much with Cantona, Giggs or the other Utd creative players.

[@benitotommassi5820]

You didn't watch much of Keane then

[@ciaranoconnell4783]

@@benitotommassi5820 Name a goal where he was doing silky one twos with a Cantona then?

[@benitotommassi5820]

@@ciaranoconnell4783 name a goal? Vs Brondby 🙄. What are you, 12? You obviously didn't watch much of Keane in that case. Just go watch some games, especially arsenal v man utd, where Keane dominates Vieira on more occasions than not. Football is not about "silky skills", it's about winning. It's a sport, not a dance. Arsenal only won the double in 98 because Keane spent most of the season out injured. He returns, united win the treble then piss the league for two more years. Try Arsenal away, 1999 where Keane scores both.

[@monkey271070]

Keane way won more leagues, way more fa cups way more league cups way more euro cups , scored way more goals defended better and had a way more contribution to his teams play and mindset as the captain. Not really much or a rivalry really. But most of British people are losers with losers mentally, so they always go for the looser.

[@nathanj109]

@@benitotommassi5820you make good points but when you talk about winning trophies Viera won it all with multiple clubs and his country with the biggest prize of them all. Unlucky for Keane he played for Ireland who don’t have a patch on France but it doesn’t take away his international honours.

[@lukiieboii]

MORE!

[@martinkelleher5662]

What an era we had the late 90's n early 2000s utd n arsenal as a man united fan I wld go for keane obviously he had an aura too was it u Gary or Al or both of u just said Vieira had an aura . Keane had it all as he got older he was more of a defensive midfielder but in his prime he scored goals he did everything as a midfielder where as now u might need 2 or 3 players to do the job he did .

[@daviel1005]

It's funny how there's almost a silent agreement as to what the best era of football was.

[@ShiNooBi1986]

Player: Veira Leader: Keane

[@lifestyleschannel8508]

I would love to see Viera as a manager with Keane has his number two

[@CorinthianProductions]

Roy Keane all day. Complete midfield unit that is able to drag his side to glory. Vieira was great, but Keane was on another level. 🇮🇪

[@lorraineking4160]

You been on the drugs? Not even a debate who was the better football player, its Vieira all day long, in all attributes.

[@tareka.4857]

Yeah the level of injuring people on purpose and ending their careers..Vieira was way more skilled than Keane. Keane was a great passer and tackler, but what made him extraordinary was his mentality. Vieira had both extraordinary mentality and skillset

[@TheUrbanher0]

Roy Keane how many World cups won sorry?

[@paulearl8203]

​@@TheUrbanher0ridiculous comment 😂

[@mpsymonds1]

You can’t compare those two. It’s like comparing a Rembrandt vs a Constable etc.

[@michaelbooth2890]

Keane's performance against Juve in 99 was legen (wait for it) dary. He got a yellow card so he was going to miss the final. But he was a class act and got Man Utd to the final.

[@jamiebanner3000]

I'd like to see David Hirst do some punditry. He seems very witty, good storyteller, bit of a comedian. He's joke about scoring against New Zealand. He seems perfect for TV.

[@donmagik6250]

Not even to mention the final game they played against each other was in the FA cup final which arsenal won on penalties and vieira took the final penalty to win before he departed to Juve. What a way to sign off against your arch rival and nemesis in the game

[@jimross1629]

You do realise roy dominated Patrick that gave right? To thus day I have no idea how that game went pens

[@toastertwo]

Honours tally what’s the score

[@JohnSmith-kj4yq]

Keane the best all round midfielder ever to play in Premier league,better captain too "pick on some on your own size patrick"❤

[@damiadigun1999]

Gary Lineker knows ball

[@Enigma3]

thats a really difficult choice.... Vieiras football was a bit more slick and pleasing to the eye but i think Keano edges it for me

[@jamesmiles1328]

Both amazing players and leaders,great characters,but Patrick vieira was a better footballer had more talent so you have to just give it to him slightly,and win more internationally to World Cup and euro

[@laoch5658]

who won more?

[@k17nopasi]

As a Liverpool fan, I hate Man United, but there’s few players for them that I have nothing but respect for and one of them is Roy Keane

[@joemcnulty3362]

Look at their head to head matches and Keane gets the better of Viera about 70/30 both on an individual level and for their teams and that's a fact. He was unmatched in his era.

[@Akan123]

Vieira by miles

[@rigsby1454]

There has never been a player like Vieira. Ever

[@croissants1280]

Roy Keane

[@benitotommassi5820]

True. There was one better though, Roy Keane.

[@kimweroIsmail]

​@@croissants1280ya roy keane helped france win a WC like viera

[@ciz4825]

@@kimweroIsmail this is the silliest thing I’ve read

[@AstroSully]

@@kimweroIsmail Yep Vieira even changed his name to Zinedine Zidane in that 98 world cup mental right?

[@JishuKC]

Keano 💪

[@jimross1629]

You swap Roy and Patrick Arsenal become the dominant team during that Premier league span! I'll let you determine what that means! Both all time greats though!

[@sinclairmasher1748]

Viera was in a league of his own. The man is a World Cup and Euro champion.

[@jimjogger306]

Rubbish 🤣

[@susbedo9258]

Europe Champions League winner? Oh wait 😂😂😂 France was stacked with talent, Viera wasn't even a key indispensable player for France.

[@cbc899]

Oh yea the deciding thing is that Viera won cups with an unbelievable French side whereas Keane didn't with a side that punched above it's weight regularly when he was there and hasn't really since he left 😂

[@benitotommassi5820]

Disrespectful for both scholes and Keane, just for the sake of variety I think. 1. Keane, the most dominant footballer I've seen, certainly midfielder. 2. Scholes. Most technically gifted midfielder of his generation. Genius. 3. Vieira. Take Keane out of united and Arsenal would have won one or two more titles because of this behemoth. 4. Gerrard. All rounder who stood out in a dreary Liverpool team. In 4th because, in a better team, I think he isn't the same superstar (see veron for comparison). 5. Lampard. Had a team that played for him but, still, his goal tally is nuts. 6. Silva 7. Yaya toure 8. Essien 9. Fabregas 10. Kante 11. De Bruyne (he will be much higher by the time he retires, maybe top 2).

[@carmenpereiroalvarez6904]

I think that in the best moment of their respective careers and if I had to choose between Vieira and Keane.., I would stay with Fernando Redondo 😅 19/04/2000

[@Eoin1]

Prime Keane against prime Vieira, Keane takes it. Vieira had the edge physically, but Keane had all the intangible qualities. He got everyone around him playing better

[@5686darryl]

lol

[@GodwinCarpenter]

Viera had way better dribbling technique etc what are you smoking?

[@sutybharrich5975]

I think Kean would say that paartthrick was a better player 😅

[@Kevoshea]

Keane: literally wins 7 pl titles, Champions League, FA cups & more. Linekar: It's hard to separate them, isn't it?'

[@djunclephill422]

Linker for President ❤️

[@Darknightpred]

The two best prem midfielders of all time but Keane edges it for me due to the number of trophies won

[@kevin084life]

So I guess Gary Lineker is back now

[@jefflinton]

I'd rather have Keane beside me on a pltch than Viera. That's what the difference is. Keane would run/lead/drive a team ON the pitch but Viera just led one.

[@jordanmc9877]

Why’s linekar saying “they both won loads of titles”, vieira won 3, Keane won 7. Idiotic these discussions.

[@gart9680]

Keane led that comeback against Juve in Turin against a Juve team full of... look it up.

[@NC-ck5oj]

For me its Keane>Viera. Ultimately he got the better of Viera overall in their duels

[@abumansur9677]

Vieira the better player obviously but Keane i feel was the better leader

[@derrickmurphy9859]

Keane all day long,both were great players but nobody could drive a team on like Roy

[@neilbroadfoot2496]

Regarding loosing there heads kean defo lost his more than patricks just my opinion 🤷‍♂️

[@theobotchway834]

Keane can only play in the UK and probably Italy 😂. Vieira is miles ahead. It’s like comparing Thomas Gravesen to Ruud Gullit, y’all better stop fooling around 😂😂

[@stepehengannon819]

Keane played brilliant against juventus in 1999..Zidane couldnt handle him.. Viera is average play in champion league..Thats the different.

[@Tom-db6ej]

Keane all day. No doubt.!

[@akashgooner4892]

I couldn’t believe that Keane has more goals than vieira and it’s not even close and both played similar no of games at club levels..Keane even outscored vieira playing half the no of games for mighty Ireland…and we know who has more trophies..enough said😊

[@lorraineking4160]

Thts like asking did Keane win a world cup and euros, a pointless debate lol. what a clown. With a name that starts 'akash' i know your one of them.

[@prayerstogod8218]

Is this even a debate

[@Ali-sj5pn]

Both club captains .. All you can do is view the stats Roy’s Teams won way more 17 trophies with united..

[@game1414]

Roy’s team are a financial super power to Arsenal. 35,000 seater stadium to 70,000. Apples & Pears

[@veysey2243]

Keane every day of the week.

[@kathleenkeane4364]

Who's Patrick Vieira?

[@kurtjohannesen5507]

Both said Patrick

[@mikebrown41182]

But is it fair? Cause Vieira had different technical skills than Roy, But roy pulled his entire team together. They similar yet so far away.

[@jimjogger306]

No one played that role like Patrick Viera! But there was someone better, Roy Keane. In all honesty, Yaya Toure was the modern patrick viera, I find it tough to find a comparison to roy keane because he was 75% Fight, Personality, Toughness, Never give in attitude, You could almost compare him to the prime Kante if you think about it, Nothing special, Nothing over the top just simple and effective.

[@peterquinn7774]

Liverpool fan, Keane is the greatest PL player in history. Back of the Times for a decade, 8/10 every single week.

[@markgoulding5333]

Keane all day long

[@khaire6661]

Vieira all the way man

[@adrianmarrinan7707]

If Keane played for Arsenal they would have won a lot more titles. Simple as that.

[@boni_slinger]

Most footballers say Vieira.

[@adammac4960]

Roy Keane is very underrated but Vieira was the better player all round

[@mahmetziad3607]

Two great players and leaders, hard to choose between them

[@kurtjohannesen5507]

Vieira is comes higher in Premier leagues Greatest players list.Only utd players think differently

[@darthmil11]

Shearer very quiet on this one 😂

[@GraveYardShift90]

Both captains. Viera just pips it for me

[@AbdurRahman-mb1vr]

Roy Keane any day.

[@gweire9515]

Keane was on his own as the best player on the planet with Zidane . Viera was just one of many challenges Keane put aside as the most influential player in the premier league from 96- 2002 . If he was English we would never have heard the end of it. His influence for Ireland v Portugal, Netherlands and Italy was phonemenal. Midfield 👑

[@dannymurphy1779]

Back in the day I thought Keane was the better player on account of his desire and insane intensity. I don't think anyone ever played football more on the edge than Roy Keane. But if you look at it under today's lens you can see Patrick did have better technique, his style is better suited to the modern game. Also for me you have to factor in the Keane tackle on Haaland plus his meltdown in the 2002 World Cup, he let his country down.

[@BOSIE321]

But Keane's first touch and passing were outstanding, that gets underplayed so much. There's this weird myth that persists that Keane was just a tough tackling DM when in fact he controlled games by launching all of United's attacks and often having the most touches of anyone on the pitch. Scholes only dropped in to be a deep playmaker AFTER Keane left the club. Prior to that everything went through Keane and that's why he was such a dominant player. He and Vieira were miles above everybody else in the league at around that time (96-02)

[@fitrivanpersie5928]

Back in the day if VAR exist, Roy Keane will be missing half of the season thru suspension. He dominated the Center thru aggression that is why only Vieira can handle Keane. But those days are fun to watch actually. Modern football too soft to my liking.

[@BOSIE321]

@@fitrivanpersie5928 Then why were his passing stats so good and why did he have the most touches of anyone on the pitch most games he played if he was just an aggressive player? Vieria actually ended his career with more red cards than Keane believe it or not.

[@paulbyrne4214]

Nah he didn't let his country down..he held its management to professional standards they chose to ignore and blame him for. You dont take an SAS soldier to a carnival shooting gallery for practice. He's the man. He bled for his team's.

[@alzer6467]

​@@fitrivanpersie5928 I'm an Arsenal fan and you're talking rubbish. Keane was class. Fantastic passer of the ball and control of the game. This agression myth around Keane has grown since people see him on telly being angry. As if he was a Vinnie Jones type player. He got angrier at his teammates more than the opposition. Of course there were a few high profile incidents but Vieira had those too. Unfortunately for Arsenal Keane was a big part of them not winning more titles. The first in 98 coincided with him being injured for the season.

[@MICHAELCAMPBELL69]

The jury is out

[@Crease36]

I am picking Keano. Physically? Vieira was the bigger man. Technically? Vieira had better technique. Tactically? Viera could play equally as good as a DM and CM... BUT - with all that being considered - i would still pick ROY KEANE. Why? Because of the unintangibles - because of his drive to win and how he pushed his teammates onward...

[@mikeyk212]

Keane , no contest. Look at the medals he won

[@mohammedfaiisal]

Vieira won the world cup and euros so it's not about medals here

[@mikeyk212]

@@mohammedfaiisal Keane won 7 premiership medals and without him I doubt Utd would have won that many. International football is slightly more of a lottery dependent on the country you are from.

[@mohammedfaiisal]

@@mikeyk212 I think they would have been fine without Keane. They won league titles without him. One just before he joined and five after he left. Arsenal went on a massive trophy drought after Vieira left. Vieria also has 7 league titles. 4 Serie A and he was a part of the squad that won Mourinhos treble too. They were both great players but there will always be a debate on who was the better player

[@mikeyk212]

@@mohammedfaiisal Fair point. I've divided loyalties. I'm Irish and a Arsenal fan. I'd happily have either on my team. Ironically Arsenal doing great this season without a Keane/Veira type player in midfield which I always thought was essential to a successful team.

[@jedsithor]

@@mohammedfaiisal Keane got injured in 97/98. That's the year Arsenal recovered a 12 point gap to win the league. Had Keane been there that wouldn't have happened. The following year, United won the treble and went on to win 3 leagues in a row. United without Keane were good. United with Keane were unstoppable.

[@daraspeight357]

I wished Bryan Robson was Irish ..Some wish Keane was English ...Enough Said..ps two great players.

[@brianoconnor2623]

Keane influenced the outcome of every match he played in. Keane was better than Viera.

[@amakky1989]

Vieira is clear

[@siraajuddin736]

Keane’s the better leader, Vieira’s the better player.

[@vincentsmith7428]

Has to be Patrick Vieira