Robbie Keane thinks Leeds United would “definitely” win trophies if they kept their turn of the century start studded squad.

But a phone call from then Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson to Rio Ferdinand suggested all was not well behind the scenes and predicted that the White faithful would be heartbroken.

Keane was part of the Leeds team that came very close to reaching the Champions League final in 2001, after finishing fourth in the Premier League and fighting for honours in all competitions. The team included stars such as Ferdinand, Alan Smith, Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Bowyer and Mark Viduka, but financial problems off the pitch soon led to the team’s demise.

Keane, who came from Inter Milan for £11 million, played only one full season with Ferdinand at Elland Road before the English defender was sold to Manchester United for £19 million. This proved to be a warning of what was to come, as former Ireland international Keane recalled in recent episodes of the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast.

“If we’d stayed a few more years, we would have won something for sure,” Keane said. “I remember being in the car with you and you were called by Sir Alex Ferguson to go to Man United. You actually told me that my agent had approached me. Leeds are in trouble. They are in financial difficulties.

“They have to sell players quickly to get money and you were the first one to go for £19 million or something like that. I think I went to Leeds for eight or ten million.

“And that was kind of the start. I was sorry you went to Man United. They were top of the table at the time, but I thought if we’d stayed together we would have won something.”

Keane moved to Tottenham in 2002, where he played for six seasons, before moving briefly to Liverpool and returning to White Hart Lane. He has also played for Coventry City, Wolves and Celtic in a prolific career that has seen him win an incredible 146 caps for the Republic of Ireland and score 68 goals.

In 2023, he briefly returned to Elland Road as manager under Sam Allardyce as he tried unsuccessfully to avoid relegation from the Premier League.