Joint 4th Roy Keane & Patrick Vieira
Sean Dempsey/PA Archive/Press Association ImagesHow can you separate Roy Keane and Patrick Vieira? Two inspirational captains who led their respective teams to numerous league titles and cup wins, two truly magnificent players who undoubtedly had the talent to match their leadership qualities the answer is you cant simply separate them. Keane made 326 league appearances for Manchester United and Vieira made 279 for Arsenal, with both quite fittingly leaving the Premier League in 2005 to end what had been a famous rivalry between the two players. Both midfielders epitomised everything that was great about their clubs during their successful periods; the pride, the passion, the never-say-die attitude which was a necessity in order to win the number of trophies they did. Both have a nasty side too though; in 1999 Vieira was banned for six matches for spitting at Neil Ruddock, whilst Keane admitted in his 2002 autobiography that he purposely set about injuring Manchester Citys Alf-Inge Haaland following a career-ending knee-high challenge. He said: I'd waited long enough. I f***ing hit him hard. The ball was there (I think). Take that you c***. And don't ever stand over me sneering about fake injuries. But love them or hate them, the ability of both players cannot be questioned, and they are two of the best footballers the Premier League have ever seen. In a modern era of defensive and attacking midfielders, when players that tend to specialise in either one or the other, these two could do both better than most, they were complete midfielders, even if they did enjoy the odd scuffle.