Roy Keane has name-checked former Leeds United duo David Batty and Gary Speed as players he hated coming up against, admitting that the midfield pair had a nasty streak.  

Leeds are currently battling to win promotion back to the Premier League for the first time since 2004, but back in the 90s and early 00s, the Whites were rubbing shoulders with Manchester United and Keane, with the Roses Rivalry as strong as ever.

And, for Keane, who has known as a tough tackling, no nonsense central midfielder, he’s been looking back on a few players who weren’t backwards in giving it back to him, including Batty and the late Gary Speed.

Speaking on Sky, as quoted by Leeds Live recently, the Irishman said: “The Premiership years ago, David Batty and these players, Rob Lee would always give you a hard game.

"Gary Speed, god rest his soul. These were brilliant players. Honestly, they'd give you a tough game. 

"Gary Speed was a tough player to go up against, and, Gary was pretty nasty, you know. Batty was nasty. 

"I always felt these boys, people always remember me kicking people, a lot of these lads were kicking me - I was just retaliating over the years!"

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Leeds were competing with Keane’s side for the Premier League title in 1999/2000 and 2000/01, but Man United would not surrender to the competition the likes of Leeds put on them in those years.

Currently, Leeds’ last English league title came during the 1991/92 season, when Batty and Speed were involved pre-Premier League.

The Verdict

David Batty and Gary Speed are Elland Road legends, who fans still adore to this day.

They gave Leeds their last English league title and that won’t be forgotten for a long, long time.

To hear Keane talk about the pair in such a way brings a smile to your face, despite the rivalry between Leeds and Manchester United.

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