Exclusive: Manchester United Legend Sammy McIlroy Calls for ‘Real Characters’ in Modern Football

Manchester United great Sammy McIlroy believes the club – and the Premier League – are crying out for characters, leaders, and a ‘real’ hard man.

Man Utd’s Struggles

United have suffered a horror start to the season with thumping defeats to arch-rivals Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as a loss to Brighton and a drab draw with Aston Villa.

And twice in European games this season, Eric ten Hag’s misfiring side have worryingly squandered leads and been forced to cling on for battling draws.

The Lost Art of Leadership

“We look at the squad now and everyone is looking for leaders,” McIlroy told SportsBoom.com.

“They’re looking for a Roy Keane, a Bryan Robson or someone like a Paddy Crerand or a Nobby Stiles to lead, players like that who would let people know if they weren’t playing well.”

“Unfortunately, those days have gone now!”

“I look around every top team now in the Premier League, and it’s not just Manchester United, and I seriously struggle for leaders and real characters.”

Hard Men of the Past

“Going back to my day when we played against Liverpool you’d come up against a Tommy Smith and even further on you’d have the likes of Ron Yeats.”

“Every team had a hard man, every team had a leader or two leaders who rolled their sleeves up and got people playing.”

“We haven’t got those characters at Manchester United, but it’s throughout the Premier League. I don’t think we’ve got them anywhere amongst the top teams.”

Lack of Characters Across the Premier League

Former skipper Keane’s angry tunnel bust-up with Arsenal’s Patrick Viera is stuff of legend.

Ex-United Gary Neville refusing to shake his brother Phil’s hand in the tunnel when he switched to Everton, as well as keeper Peter Schmeichel following his shock move to derby rivals Manchester City, showed the passion supporters used to love to see at Old Trafford.

“You don’t see that now, it’s such a shame,” added McIlroy. “That’s what fans want to see.”

“Television wants that as well, you want to see a little bit of aggravation and a little bit of spice.”

“In my day we had players coming through the back of you and saying to you after ‘get up, don’t be soft’. You don’t see those characters like that anymore.”

“Don’t get me wrong, the standard of football in the Premier League is excellent, the quality is there. There’s some fantastic footballers in the Premier League.”

“I’m not knocking their ability; I’m just pointing out that the passion side of the game is nowhere near to what is was going back to my day.”

“Whether it was the top teams or the bottom teams, even the bottom teams had characters and leaders who give you a battle and you’d know you were in a game.”