Roy Keane, the iconic figure of Manchester United, has shared a heartfelt tribute following the passing of his mother, Marie, on Friday.

Marie Keane departed this life peacefully, surrounded by her devoted family and under the compassionate care of the medical team at Marymount University Hospital and Hospice in Cork.

The former Manchester United and Ireland midfielder maintained a close bond with his mother, often returning to his birthplace to spend time with her.

A touching photograph shows Marie seated in a wheelchair, wrapped in layers for warmth, smiling gently at the camera. Beside her, Keane shares the frame, his arm lovingly draped around her as he smiles.

Among those offering condolences was David Beckham, who expressed his sympathies with a heart emoji in the comments section of Keane’s post.

Roy Keane has paid a heartfelt tribute to his late mother following her passing this week

Gary Neville also paid his respects in a similar fashion. Keane has a long history with both Beckham and Neville from their days playing together at Manchester United, and he continues to collaborate with Neville in roles as a TV pundit and podcast host.

Marie is predeceased by her husband, Maurice ‘Mossie’ Keane, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 79 after suffering a stroke. Roy was one of the pallbearers at his funeral. Marie is described as the ‘beloved mother of Denis, Johnson, Hilary, Roy and Pat’.

Keane’s parents were big supporters of his footballing career, watching on as he made 480 appearances for United between 1993 and 2005, as well as earning 67 caps for Ireland.

He shared a picture of the two of them together on one such visit to his hometown in January 2022, alongside the caption: ‘The only boss I listen to’. 

Marie and Mossie married on 10 August 1963. At Mossie’s funeral, his nephew told mourners his uncle was known for his ‘infectious smile’ and of his great love for his wife and their five children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

‘The charming original Keano married Marie on 10 August 1963. Last Saturday was their 57th wedding anniversary,’ he said at the time. ‘Mossie and Marie were blessed with five wonderful children, Denis, Johnson, Hilary, Roy and Pat. They moved to Mayfield, where they reared their family in hard times but always managed to get by.

‘Mossie was always a very proud father of all of his children and siblings, singing their praises at every opportunity and never forgetting his roots. His proudest moment was yet to come: to see his son Roy captain Manchester United and lead them on to many successes.’

During an episode of Stick to Football last year, Keane became emotional when he came across a picture of his parents while going through his footballing memorabilia.

David Beckham and Gary Neville were among those to send their condolences to Keane

‘You’re on about the ups and downs of football, but when you see your family after Wembley, when you’ve won a big game…’ he said, before choking up. He was comforted by his fellow hosts Ian Wright, Jill Scott and Gary Neville.

Sir Alex Ferguson once labelled Keane as the ‘best player’ he had ever worked with, with the Irishman lifting 12 major trophies during his 12-year spell at the club.

The legendary manager did, however, write in his autobiography that Keane had a ‘savage tongue’ and that he had to be moved on for the greater good of the club after he ‘overstepped his mark’ by criticising his team-mates on United’s in-house television station.

Marie leapt to the defence of her son, telling the Irish Sun in 2013: ‘God almighty, I can’t believe Sir Alex would say such things about Roy. I just can’t believe it.

Keane moved to England to join Nottingham Forest in 1990 and made sure that his parents always had tickets to his games.

It was during this time that Maurice and Marie moved from Mayfield to Rathpeacon, to a house Roy had bought for them.

The visitation will take place at O’Connor Bros. Funeral Home, North Gate Bridge, on Monday, 30 March, between 6 and 7 pm.

It will be followed by a requiem mass on Tuesday, 31 March, at 11.00 am in the Church of the Resurrection, Farranree. The family has requested donations to Marymount Hospice in lieu of flowers.