Keane: I almost quit

Red Devils captain Keane admitted he reached a low ebb in his Old Trafford career after his sending off at Newcastle in September.

Keane received his marching orders for mindlessly throwing the ball at Magpies skipper Alan Shearer.

The firebrand midfielder then decided to walk away from United but was cajoled into staying by Ferguson, with Keane acknowledging he stayed out of loyalty to his manager.

After his red card at St James' Park, the combative Irishman felt it was time to turn his attentions away from football.

"Some time during the night I decided: Give it up, Roy. You've turned 30 - get out, get away, do something else. You've got to stop hurting yourself, hurting those you love," said Keane in his autobiography, serialised in the News of the World.

"I felt I'd lost the argument that some players were in the comfort zone. Too many people were content with what they had. It wasn't for me. I should go.

"Next morning I was waiting for the gaffer at the training ground at eight o'clock. I told him I wanted to pack it in.

"I'm not doing my stuff, we're not doing our stuff. I can't take any more of it. He said it was a knee-jerk reaction.

"We talked for a long time, me more than him. He understood. He agreed about the complacency, things falling apart, where we were headed if we didn't take the next step."

Keane was all set to miss United's next game, a Champions League group clash against Lille as he persisted with his thoughts of quitting.

But a further conversation with Ferguson prompted a change of heart and he is hoping he can avoid a similar flashpoint.

He added: "I loved my football, really loved it. But could I play for another club? My heart was in Manchester United. And if I couldn't play with my heart I couldn't play.

"My mind was settled. I felt calm, a big weight off my shoulders. Things happen for a reason. I wasn't scared of life without football. Financially I could survive.

"In the afternoon, he (Ferguson) called round my house. He sat down with Theresa and me. 'You've been taking too much on board regarding results and bad performances, Roy.'

"'You'd be mad to leave football. If you walk away now while you're young you'll regret it for the rest of your life.'

"I decided to play against Lille. Alex Ferguson had stood by me. Quitting would be a slap in the face for him, the last thing he needed when the club was struggling. I carried on for him.

"He was brilliant to me all the way through and that night at Old Trafford I knew he was right to tell me I would regret it if I went.

"Unfortunately, one of my character defects is I make very rash decisions on and off the pitch. At the time I felt I had thought it through.

"But, hopefully, I'll never get to the situation again where I am so worked up in any game. It's not a crime to lose your temper but I did have a lot to throw away."