Roy Keane Reveals Multi-Million Man United Contracts, Signing Bonuses, Family Flight Perks

Roy Keane has revealed details of his old Manchester United contracts, providing a rare insight into footballer salaries and perks from the early 2000s. His earnings included a basic wage of around £950,000 per year in 2000, which later increased to £2.75 million and then £3.5 million annually, with signing-on bonuses totaling £4 million paid in installments. In addition to his salary, United agreed to finance 20 return flights per year between Manchester and Keane's hometown of Cork for him and his family, a unique clause that highlighted personal concessions in his contract. Gary Neville, who also appeared with Keane on the podcast, noted that Keane earned significantly more than he did despite their similar roles, with Neville admitting he did not negotiate his contracts actively. The contracts also included performance incentives, especially as Keane aged, encouraging him to maximize playing time. These figures, while substantial at the time, are modest compared to the astronomical wages of modern footballers, particularly those recently moving to leagues like Saudi Arabia's Pro League.