Reading FC manager Paul Ince spent five years as a Manchester United player and upon his return to Old Trafford on Saturday, the former England midfielder was greeted warmly by the home fans.
Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane said Ince deserved the reception from the Old Trafford crowd on Saturday night.
During Ince’s time at Old Trafford, he won several trophies, including two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the European Cup Winners Cup.
Sir Alex Ferguson sold Ince to Inter Milan but he didn’t last very long in Italy before turning to the Premier League… for Liverpool, where he spent two years before signing for Middlesbrough.
There’s no denying Ince was a ‘Big Time Charlie’ – just look at the clubs he played for throughout his career (!), but it was a surprise to some to see him get a warm reception at Old Trafford.
Keane praised supporters for how they treated Ince in a game United went on to win 3-1 after a Casemiro brace and Fred goal.
“Rightly so, rightly so,” Keane told ITV4, as quoted by Berkshire Live. “He deserves it. United fans again showed a bit of class tonight, they do give ex-players a good reception. It was well deserved and he was spot on about his team, they stuck at it, it was a hard night for them, and they showed great spirit.”
United will have their eyes on the draw for the FA Cup fifth round tomorrow.
