Former Man United star reveals he is ‘still in pain’ from the injury that nearly ended his career, as he opens up on his controversial move to Old Trafford, the challenges of replacing Roy Keane… and drinking cups of tea with the Irishman

A former Manchester United star has detailed his controversial arrival at the club and the injuries he suffered during his playing career, which still affect him to this day.

Sir Alex Ferguson led United to an unprecedented era of Premier League dominance in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Arriving in a dressing room full of big personalities for the most successful club in the country at the time would have been a tall order for any player.

Combine that with the fact that you are only 23, and having previously publicly stated that you would never play for the club, making an impression would undoubtedly have been no easy task.

But that is exactly the situation Alan Smith found himself in when Sir Alex brought the striker to Old Trafford in the summer of 2004 after Leeds were relegated from the Premier League.

Alan Smith arrived at Old Trafford from Leeds having previously publicly stated he would never join Sir Alex Ferguson

Asked about his infamous comment, Smith revealed it was a result of his inexperience in football but insists he has no regrets.

‘I made that comment a few years before I left the club and I think it was naivety. When I said it, Leeds were flying and doing really well,” Smith said Manchester Evening News.

‘Football is just a dream growing up as a child. I came into the first team so young and Leeds were doing well, so I never expected such a fall from grace. The quote was probably naivete and the desire for more love from the Leeds fans.

‘You know there is rivalry between the clubs. It was something I don’t regret because I was so young.’

After arriving as a striker, Smith struggled to find regular playing time amid the wealth of attacking options the club possessed at the time.

As a result, the England international began to be transformed into a deep-lying midfielder, a role in which he often took the place of Roy Keane as the legendary Irishman neared the end of his career at the club.

“He was impossible to replace because of his personality and the manager knew he was struggling with injuries and couldn’t play three games in a week,” Smith said.

“I was just someone who was willing to play that role, to try to fill it the best I could. I was never impressed by it, because I thought it was a compliment, because I thought I would never be as good as him, but that I could fill it.

But the England international quickly endeared himself to the United faithful for his performances

Smith described the relationship he shared with Keane as Sir Alex groomed him as a potential successor to the Irishman

‘It was a learning curve for me, although after my injury it was probably the only position I could play. The opportunity to learn it before my injury really helped me extend my career when I look back.”

Operating in Keane’s role led to the pair becoming closer, with Smith revealing he learned great lessons from working with the United captain.

“Me and Roy had such a great relationship, to be honest. “I’ve been a football nerd all my life and we talked about that, but people don’t see that side of me because they think I have a reputation, but I’m the opposite,” he explained.

“I loved football from the time I first started playing and for me and Roy it was interesting because we would go out, have pots of tea and just talk about football. He told me about all his previous experiences.

Despite joining from one of the club’s biggest rivals, Smith quickly endeared himself to the United faithful and looked set to fill the void left by Keane’s departure in November 2005.

However, just three months later, Smith would suffer a double leg fracture and a dislocated ankle during an FA Cup match with Liverpool, which threatened to end his career prematurely.

‘There were questions about whether I would be able to continue playing. From a medical perspective, I knew that, but I never really thought about it,” Smith said.

‘I didn’t really care what level I would come back to, I just wanted to try to get fit, try to play. I remember talking to the hand surgeon who performed my ankle surgery, which shows how complicated it was, and he was honest with me.

Smith also detailed the injury he suffered against Liverpool in 2006 that still hurts him to this day

But the 42-year-old Premier League winner insisted he would not change anything about his career

‘He told me that even if I managed to recover, I would be very limited. I worked with Michael Clegg in the gym every day and that especially helped your mind because you desperately want to play and you can’t.”

Although he would return to action for the 2006–07 season and win a Premier League medal, Smith’s time at United would come to an end the following summer, but the damage from his injury continued to plague him.

“I do my best to play when I coach now, but I am limited. It’s hard to be in pain all the time, but I was able to play for another 13 years,” he said.

‘I went to Newcastle and I enjoyed my time there and I wouldn’t change a thing about it even though my injury hurts me every day because I believe these setbacks test you and I’ve met so many good people along the way met who took care of me.

‘Would I like to have less pain and be able to play? Absolutely, but it taught me many lessons. I think it humbles you as a person because you’re on an upward spiral and then all of a sudden you fall apart.’