Roy Keane has indicated he has little desire to return to management, despite being touted as a potential replacement for Michael Carrick at Manchester United. The former United captain, speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, said he feels for those in the role, including Carrick, who is under growing pressure at Old Trafford.
Keane's Stance on Management
Keane, who has spent recent years as a television pundit, acknowledged he still believes he could have been "a really good manager" but admitted the demands of the job no longer appeal to him. "These last few years [of prioritising TV punditry over coaching] … there's no going back now," he said. "There's definitely part of me over the last few years that thinks I should still be a manager somewhere."
When host Gary Neville pointed out that Keane "has lived what Carrick's going through right now," Keane replied: "I feel for them." He added: "When you're in that managerial role, you're thinking two or three bad results and you could be out the door... that's a tough rollercoaster. I don't miss being on that rollercoaster, I just have this feeling that I could have been a really good manager."
United's Current Struggles
United have won just one of their opening nine Premier League fixtures, leaving them 17th in the table. A 3-2 comeback win against Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday ended a nine-game winless streak, but criticism of Carrick has continued. Sunday's trip to Aston Villa, United's final game before the international break, could be significant, with the club's hierarchy expected to consider Carrick's position during the break.
Several managers have been linked with the role, including Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann, Antonio Conte and Unai Emery. Former Premier League striker Djibril Cisse, who worked under Keane at Sunderland, told Mr Gamble that Keane would be an exciting appointment. "It would be another club legend coming back. If it were him [David Beckham buying out Sir Jim Ratcliffe] and Roy Keane, that would be amazing," Cisse said. "Keane has the weight of experience and history. He is a strong personality and he's an icon of the club. He wore the armband for so many years during United's glory days, so bringing him back would be a really good thing."
Keane's Managerial Career
Keane began his managerial career in 2006 at Sunderland, leading the club to promotion from the Championship in his first season and keeping them in the Premier League the following year. His time on Wearside ended during his third campaign, and he later took over at Ipswich Town, where he lasted under two years without achieving promotion.
He subsequently moved into coaching roles, serving as assistant with the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest alongside Martin O'Neill. Away from the training ground, Keane became a prominent television personality, first on ITV and later on Sky Sports, where his uncompromising punditry has made him a popular figure, though his candid assessments have divided opinion.
