Roy Keane has cast doubt on a return to management, despite recent links to the Manchester United job as pressure continues to mount on Michael Carrick.
United sit 17th in the table after winning just one of their opening nine Premier League games. A 3-2 comeback victory over Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday ended a nine-match winless run, but has done little to ease the scrutiny on Carrick.
Sunday's meeting with Aston Villa, United's final fixture before the international break, could prove pivotal. The club are expected to use the break to assess Carrick's position and decide whether to make a change.
Keane's response to management pleas
Several high-profile names have been linked with the job, including Eddie Howe, Julian Nagelsmann, Antonio Conte and Unai Emery. But for former Premier League star Djibril Cisse, Keane would be an appealing option given his legendary status at Old Trafford, uncompromising personality and deep connection with the club.
Cisse, who played under Keane at Sunderland, told Mr Gamble: "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."
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.
"I really enjoyed working with him because he didn't judge me on what he'd heard or what people might say about my character. He trusted me, it worked very well, and I was very disappointed when he left. He's a coach I loved working with and whom I respect enormously."
Keane's coaching history
However, the former United captain has now cast doubt on the prospect of a return to management. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane maintained that he could have become a very good manager but admitted he has little appetite for the pressures that come with the job.
"These last few years [of prioritising TV punditry over coaching] … there's no going back now," Keane said. "There's definitely part of me over the last few years that thinks I should still be a manager somewhere. I still feel I could have been a really good manager.
"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."
Keane moved into management shortly after retiring from playing in 2006, taking charge of Sunderland. He guided the Black Cats from the Championship to the Premier League in his first season and successfully kept them in the top flight the following campaign.
However, his tenure ended midway through his third season, with Sunderland struggling in the relegation zone. He returned to management a few months later with Ipswich Town but lasted less than two years, failing to secure promotion to the Premier League.
Over the following decade, Keane took on assistant managerial roles with the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest, working alongside Martin O'Neill. It was also during this period that his career as a TV pundit began to flourish.
Having initially established himself as a prominent voice on ITV, Keane eventually joined Sky Sports, where he has become one of the most recognisable figures in football broadcasting. His trademark blunt assessments, cutting one-liners and deadpan sense of humour have made him a firm favourite with viewers, even as his outspoken criticism continues to divide opinion.
