Former Celtic and Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane has been tipped to make a return to management, according to a sensational report. The Irish midfielder has long since been linked with the Celtic job and was believed to have been offered the job in 2014. The Premier League winner was offered the chance to replace Neil Lennon with Ronny Deila as his No.2 and fast forward to 2021, he is still one of the favourites to take the manager’s job.
Keane, who played for the Bhoys’ in the second half of the 2005-06 season, managed 13 games under the Gordon Strachan before announcing his retirement the subsequent summer. Hailed as a potential successor to Strachan by former Celtic players, a move to become Bhoys’ boss never materialised for Keane and he eventually went on to become Sunderland manager.
Favourites for the Celtic job pre Lennon:
๐ช๐ธ Rafa Benitez
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ David Moyes
๐ญ๐ท Slaven Bilic
๐ช๐ธ Roberto Martinez
๐ต๐น Andres Villas BoasFavourites for the Celtic job post Lennon:
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ณ๓ ฃ๓ ด๓ ฟ Gordon Strachan
๐ด๓ ง๓ ข๓ ฅ๓ ฎ๓ ง๓ ฟ Eddie Howe
๐ฎ๐ช Roy Keane
๐ธ๐ช Henrik Larsson
๐ต๐น Marco Silva— Everything Celtic (@aboutceltic) November 30, 2020
He started well at the Stadium of Light, winning promotion to the Championship in his first season as boss and then surviving a season in the Premier League; before a string of poor results meant that he lost the dressing room and was sacked as a result – with certain players reportedly celebrating his dismissal.
“This decision was a purely selfish one. I just wanted to play for Glasgow Celtic. Celtic is a special club.โ
Roy Keane pic.twitter.com/c99h48zs09โ CelticQuote (@CelticQuote) January 14, 2017
Notorious hardman Keane then went on to become Ipswich manager, but an unsuccessful spell in the Championship meant that he was dismissed in just under two years in the role with the ‘Tractor Boys’ languishing in 21st.
And, according to the Sun’s Alan Nixon, Keane is wanting a managerial comeback and could be linked with the side he finished his career, Celtic, amongst others.
Nixon says: ‘The fiery Irishman has told pals he is itching to be a boss again and get the day-to-day involvement at a club that he is missing.”
“Keane has been visiting his old pals at Manchester United when he can, checking in to their training HQ on the quiet. There may be a roue back into the game for him at his old club despite some of his savage remarks about players. But news that Keane would return to the dugout is bound to spark interest in many places.”
With other rumours about Damien Duff’s return to Lennoxtown resurfacing over the past week – with Keane’s former international team-mate leaving his post as an Irish national team coach – his down to earth, hardworking nature alongside the pair’s love for Celtic could be an initial starting point in terms of rebuilding the club should Neil Lennon leave.
Damien Duff has informed the Football Association of Ireland that he is stepping down from his role as coach to Stephen Kennyโs Republic of Ireland team
Read more โก๏ธ https://t.co/AIwa4Pvy9f #COYBIG pic.twitter.com/H0BailKbv9
โ FAIreland โฝ๏ธ๐ฎ๐ช (@FAIreland) January 8, 2021
Evidently, Keane hasn’t got the best repertoire on the potenetial manager shortlist, but as someone who ‘knows the club’, alongside his never say die attitude, it certainly would be an interesting proposition for the livewired character to become the boss at Paradise.
