Roy Keane says his loyalty will always be with Brian Clough in any debate over whether the legendary Nottingham Forest manager was a better boss than Sir Alex Ferguson.
But he has made it clear they were both "brilliant managers".
It was Clough who brought Keane to English football from Cobh Ramblers in 1990 - and he went on to play over 100 league games for Forest before making a then British record £3.75m move to Manchester United in 1993, going on to win seven Premier League titles and the Champions League under Ferguson at Old Trafford.
"I've worked under Brian Clough and Sir Alex Ferguson... very, very lucky," Keane told Notts TV.
"Alex Ferguson never gave me an instruction regarding football where I didn't quite understand what he was talking about.
"A bit like Brian Clough, he kept it very simple, straightforward, nothing complicated.
"But these guys knew the game inside out.
"It was just unfortunate the way it ended, but that doesn't tarnish my memories of a lucky career at United."
"My loyalty is always towards Brian Clough because of the fact he signed me, and gave me my debut, and I will be forever grateful for that," he added.
"So it has to be Brian Clough for that side of it, but it's a bit silly, it's like when people talk about Ronaldo and Messi and who's better.
"They were basically two brilliant managers that I feel very lucky to have played under, so there's no favouritism on that side of it.
"It's just Brian Clough was the one who signed me and gave me my debut, so I obviously have huge respect for Brian Clough."
