Football fans are surprised by who Man Utd legend Roy Keane supported growing up

Football fans have been left surprised by Man United legend Roy Keane confirming his support of one of the club's Premier League rivals.

Keane, 52, played 478 times for Man United during his career and famously captained the Red Devils in their Treble winning season in 1999.

Despite winning seven Premier League titles, four FA Cups and the Champions League at the club, the Irishman has admitted he did not support Man United when growing up.

Fans were surprised when Keane distanced himself from supporting Man United on the Stick to Football podcast.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright had addressed Keane and Gary Neville after a joke about the Gunners collapse in the final stages of last season's title race.

'As Man United fans, you lot should not be making jokes about any kind of football right now,' Wright said, amid the Red Devils struggles on the pitch.

The comment prompted Keane to respond 'I am a Spurs fan, I played for Man United but Spurs are my team.'

'Even more of a reason why you shouldn't,' Wright joked in reply.

Keane's comment surprised some fans, with the former Man United star turned pundit having not been shy to deliver brutal criticism about the North London side.

He has regularly used the term 'Spursy' as a jibe when the club have faltered, while Keane was the origin of the phrase 'Lads, it's Tottenham' after revealing Sir Alex Ferguson's famous team talk ahead of a match.

Tottenham fans have joked at Keane reiterating their support for the club, suggesting it is the cause of the Irishman's often 'miserable' persona.

'Always confuses me that people doubt the accuracy of this. Anyone who hates Spurs as much as Roy Keane makes clear he does so regularly must be a fan of the club,' one fan wrote.

'I can’t tell if he is being serious or not, but it would explain why he is miserable most of the time,' added another.

'Explains why he’s angry all the time, doesn’t it. Just wants the best,' a third commented.

While Keane's comment has surprised some fans, he has repeatedly spoken about supporting Spurs when growing up in Ireland.

Keane revealed at a 2015 function for childhood cancer charity Barretstown that he had admired players like Glenn Hoddle and Clive Allen, which contributed to having a soft spot for the club.

'Just because I played for Manchester United didn't mean I was a fan of the team, Keane said.

'When I played for Rockmount, one of my team-mate's fathers used to bring me to training and he supported Tottenham.

'That's where it started, I liked their players, the likes of Glenn Hoddle and Clive Allen.

'But after I'd come back from trial at Nottingham Forest, Spurs offered me a trial.

'I turned it down because Forest had been good me, I liked the club and felt some loyalty to them. I had a soft spot for Spurs, and still do.'