![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/i-was-tasked-with-replacing-keane-at-man-utd-but-we-had-a-great-relationship/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/crop-24018580.jpg&description=potty about him Published : 12:20, 19 Sep 2023 Updated : 12:20, 19 Sep 2023 FORMER Manchester United star Alan Smith has opened up about his arrival at Old Trafford from Leeds and trying to replace legend Roy Keane. The pair formed a great relationship as a result and Smith revealed how they used to enjoy drinking pots of tea together. 2 Alan Smith has opened up about his time at Old Trafford Credit: Getty 2 Smith spoke about his close relationship with Roy Keane Credit: News Group Newspapers Ltd Sir Alex Ferguson brought Smith to Old Trafford in the summer of 2004 after his former team and rivals Leeds were relegated from the Premier League. The former forward struggled to find regular game time amidst the wealth of attacking options the club possessed. As a result, Smith began to play as a deep-lying midfielder - a role in which he would often fill in for Roy Keane as the legendary Irishman neared the end of his career. Smith spoke to Manchester Evening News about his time at United and his experience with Keane. He said: "Roy Keane was impossible to replace because of his personality and the manager knew he was struggling injury-wise and couldn't play three games in a week. "I was just someone who was willing to play that role, to try to do it to the best of my ability. "I was never overawed by it because I thought it was a compliment, thinking that I'd never be as good as him but that I could fill in." Keane didn't drink alcohol by the time Smith arrived and the pair gravitated toward each other on team nights out. He added: "Me and Roy had such a great relationship, to be honest. "I've been a football geek my whole life and we'd talk about that, but people don't see that side of me because they think I've got a reputation, but I'm the opposite. "I loved football from when I first started playing and for me and Roy, it was interesting because we'd go out and we would drink pots of tea and just chat about football. "He'd tell me about all of his experiences previ){kind=link}
FORMER Manchester United star Alan Smith has opened up about his arrival at Old Trafford from Leeds and trying to replace legend Roy Keane.
The pair formed a great relationship as a result and Smith revealed how they used to enjoy drinking pots of tea together.
Sir Alex Ferguson brought Smith to Old Trafford in the summer of 2004 after his former team and rivals Leeds were relegated from the Premier League.
The former forward struggled to find regular game time amidst the wealth of attacking options the club possessed.
As a result, Smith began to play as a deep-lying midfielder – a role in which he would often fill in for Roy Keane as the legendary Irishman neared the end of his career.