Roy Keane has admitted he would consider a return to management amid intense speculation over a potential move to Celtic.
Fans are awaiting news over the future of boss Martin O'Neill, who confessed he will consider his future during the international break following defeat to Rangers in the Premiership.
That was the third defeat in a week for the Scottish champions - having also been thumped by their rivals in the Premier Sports Cup before opening their Europa League campaign with a home defeat to Ferencvaros.
Keane watched from the stands
Fans speculated over a potential succession plan after the Manchester United icon Keane was in the stands during the 1-0 league defeat at Celtic Park - but Celtic CEO Michael Nicholson has since offered his support to O'Neill.
That means the decision will ultimately lie in the hands of the 74-year-old - who Keane worked with during O'Neill's time in charge of Ireland and Nottingham Forest.
The Ireland hero has been out of the dug-out for 15 years since leaving Ipswich Town where he spent two years in charge after success in his first job as boss of Sunderland.
Keane opens door to return
But while speaking to Micah Richards in a Sky Sports Premier League A-Z feature released on Saturday, Keane threw open the door to a dugout return.
He said: “Strangely enough, at weekends when I’m watching games, there are teams I watch and you go, ‘I think I could go in there and do a job.
“But it’s mostly at weekends. It’s not through the week. It’s not Monday morning when I’m having my scrambled egg at the local cafe, just reading a paper. All these managers driving up and down the motorways and stresses...
“But yeah, I do. I think there’s always something there. The pilot light is still on for something. If someone gave me a phone call and told you, you know what? Who knows? It's going to be unlikely.”
Richards put it to Keane that management is "still in you", noting how the Irishman reacts while watching games on punditry duty in the Sky studio.
He conceded: “Yeah. Because even when we’re watching games, you look at it from a manager’s point of view.” Yeah, maybe, maybe. But then to actually go in there and do it, the logistics of everything.”
Past offers turned down
The former Sunderland gaffer also noted there had been offers in recent years that he has knocked back to stick with his current media duties.
He added: “It’s well and good sitting here going, ‘Yeah, yeah.’ But the reality is then, and I’ve had opportunities the last few years, but then there’s contracts and staff issues and you go, ‘Really?’”
“And sometimes you go, ‘Stick to what you’re doing.’”
Keane - who rounded off his playing days at Celtic Park with a short spell in 2006 - famously turned down the Hoops' job in 2014 before Ronny Deila was appointed - with the Irishman claiming Dermot Desmond told him the job was his if he wanted it.
