Roy Keane has given fans an exclusive look at one of his old Manchester United contracts – and the stunning details contained within.
The Irishman was one of United’s most successful captains ever and enjoyed a trophy-laden 12 seasons at the club between 1993 and 2005.
Keane, 54, won 17 trophies in total – including seven Premier League titles and a Champions League – while his YouTube accomplice Gary Neville also skippered the side and had an exceedingly successful career at Old Trafford, with 21 trophies lifted.
Despite their legendary status, neither of them were remotely as well paid as the top stars of the modern era.
In the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by ARNE, Keane and Neville revealed their earnings from their time under Sir Alex Ferguson’s tutelage.
‘I found a couple of old contracts… you can have a look at it,’ Keane told Neville, Jamie Carragher, Jill Scott, and Ian Wright.
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Reading out some contracts – it appears that Keane was on several at a time – Neville said: ‘You signed a contract in 2000 for £950,000 per year, which is £20,000 a week.
‘Just basic wage… then you’ve got the contract that was signed in 2003. Then there’s a contract for £2.75million a year from 2000 to 2003.’
One of Keane’s contracts, which he signed in 1999, shows that he was granted a £4m signing-on bonus, to be paid in instalments of £1m per year.
But as striking as that is a remarkable concession United made to Keane and his family.
The document shows that the Red Devils were willing to finance 20 return flights per year to Cork for Keane and his family – clearly a specific request made by the midfielder or his camp.
On the other hand, Neville says he did not interfere too much with his contractual process.
‘I didn’t negotiate my contracts; I just signed them. I wasn’t bothered,’ he said.
It turns out that Keane’s final contract also included a £1m signing-on bonus, elevating his earnings to £3.75m in the opening year of the deal.
Neville remarked that his basic wage had actually depleted, to which Keane noted: ‘Then you’re getting older, and the incentive is to play more… the incentive is to make sure you’re playing.’
Even so, Keane’s final wage was apparently almost double Neville’s £2.3m that he was paid in his final year, 2011.
Carragher saw the chance for a cheeky quip: ‘Yeah, but he was three times the player!’
Keane, Neville, and Carragher were talking on the latest episode of Stick to Football, brought to you by ARNE.
