Roy Keane Shares Rare Details of His Manchester United Contract

Roy Keane has lifted the lid on some of his old contracts with Manchester United, revealing extraordinary details about his remuneration and perks during his time at the club. The legendary Irish midfielder, who captained United for many years, enjoyed a career brimming with success, capturing 17 trophies, including seven Premier League titles and a Champions League victory.

Although considered one of the club’s iconic players, Keane’s earnings were modest compared to today’s top stars. During a recent episode of Stick to Football, he showed fans some of his old contracts, which shed light on his financial arrangements under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Keane explained to Gary Neville and others that he found multiple contracts from different periods. One contract from 1999 revealed a £4 million signing bonus paid in annual installments of £1 million. Additionally, a contract signed in 2000 indicated a salary of £950,000 per year (roughly £20,000 weekly), and a later deal from 2003 reportedly increased his annual pay to £2.75 million.

Remarkably, Keane’s contracts also included unique perks. One document showed he was granted 20 return flights annually to Cork for himself and his family—a specific request that clearly highlights the personalized arrangements made for him.

While Neville reported that he didn’t negotiate his contracts actively—simply signing what was offered—Keane’s final deal reportedly boosted his earnings further with a £1 million signing-on bonus, bringing his first-year total to nearly £3.75 million.

Keane and Neville, both successful captains, reflect on their careers, with Neville notably stating his wages declined as he aged, whereas Keane’s final contract surpassed Neville’s £2.3 million salary in 2011. Former teammate Jamie Carragher joked that Keane’s superiority on the pitch justified his higher earnings.