“I was like the mediator in all of this.”
Former Manchester United forward Dwight Yorke has lifted the lid on the much-talked about feud between teammates Roy Keane and Teddy Sheringham.
Yorke had a relationship with the Irish midfielder that went far beyond their Old Trafford glory days, as Keano later signed the Trinidad and Tobago native while manager of Sunderland in a £200,000 deal.
While it seems Dwight and Roy got on like a house on fire, the same can’t be said for the Corkman and another of United’s men up front.
In 1997, Tottenham forward Teddy Sheringham was one of the top prospects in English football.
After the shock departure of Eric Cantona during the 1996/97 season, Sheringham was signed by Sir Alex Ferguson as the Frenchman’s replacement in a £3.5 million deal.
By the sounds of it, Teddy was a figure who thought highly of himself and favoured a flashy lifestyle, something which the humble United captain didn’t seem to appreciate.
There has been much speculation surrounding what might have caused the rift that lasted for four years.
Now, Yorkie has given us all an insight into the friction while appearing on beIN Sports alongside Andy Gray, Martin Tyler and Tim Cahill.
“Keano didn’t particularly like him too much, so that didn’t help,” Yorke said.
“It took me two years into my reign at United to realise that was happening because I was having such a good time.
“I was like the mediator in all of this. The happy-go-lucky guy in the dressing room,” he added.
“[Keane] didn’t like [Sheringham] turning up in the Ferrari, from what I gather. There might have been more to it, but that had a part to play in it.
“You had to be a baller to turn up in a proper car back in the day.”
Compounding the bad blood was the fact that Sheringham had a dislike for Andy Cole, who he was constantly battling for a place in the team with.
Cole has famously described how Sheringham refused to shake his hand during a substitution while playing for England, and told the story of a time where Keane intervened in the Manchester United dressing him while the pair were having a spat.
The former Ireland assistant manager is alleged to have said: “Why don’t you f*** off back to London in your f***ing red Ferrari and your penthouse?”
Proof that Teddy’s choice of car really got on Keano’s nerves.
