United Review interview with Man Utd matchday announcer Alan Keegan

Since that first shift, Alan has travelled all over the world with the Reds, to European finals in Moscow, Rome, London and Stockholm. On seven tours. There have been a countless flow of magic moments: Sir Alex Ferguson’s final home game, Wayne Rooney’s astonishing debut, calling “Ruuuuud” van Nistelrooy’s many Old Trafford goals – Keegan has soundtracked them all for thousands upon thousands of Reds.

When Cristiano Ronaldo returned with Real Madrid in 2013, he even collaborated with Ferguson on his match script. “Sir Alex had a word about two weeks before and we talked about the routine,” he remembers. 

“Normally, I do the away team first in a sort of low-key voice. Fergie said: ‘Let’s change it. Do United first. Do the Madrid XI and save Ronaldo until the end.’ He never actually said why, but he was playing the mind games, wasn’t he?! There was always the odd rumour Ronaldo might come back and emotions were running high. It was his first time back. When I said: ‘Welcome back, no.7, Cristiano Ronaldo…’ Old Trafford just erupted.”