Manchester United legend Roy Keane could be set to return to management. The Times are reporting that the vacant Hibernian job is interesting the former Republic of Ireland international. Keane, who has previously managed Sunderland and Ipswich Town, could return to Scotland for the first time since departing Celtic in 2006 and retiring from playing.
Legend Roy Keane Linked With Return to Management at Hibernian
Could Roy Keane be Heading Back to Scotland?
Keane, who finished his playing career at Celtic, could be heading back North of the border to take over at manager-less Hibernian. The Edinburgh club sacked Shaun Maloney last week after just four months in charge following his failure to guide the club to a top-six finish. They also exited the Scottish Cup to city rivals Hearts.
Hibs could now be set to try and appoint a high-profile manager in a bid to improve their chances of league success and also overtake their near and fierce rivals Hearts as the number one team in Edinburgh. Talks between Keane and Hibs could begin later this week should the former Sunderland manager be convinced that this is the right move.
Should the 50-year-old take over at Easter Road it would be his first managerial position in 11 years.
A Possible Change of Heart by Roy Keane Linked With Return to Management
Keane recently spoke to Jamie Carragher regarding whether he would ever get back into management. The former Manchester United captain said: “I think, those days are over for me.
“It’s maybe more of a head job that is the role for me and over the next few years, I can’t see a club giving me a real good opportunity to get back into it. But I don’t mind that either. I’m not afraid of going ‘you might do TV for the next two or three years’.
“I don’t mind that. I count my blessings, because as you know there are a lot of ex-players looking to get back into it.”
Varying Degrees of Success as a Manager
Keane, who played under two of the greatest managers ever in Sir Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough, has had varying degrees of success as a manager and as an assistant.
His first role in management was at Sunderland. The Black Cats had just suffered relegation from the Premier League and had made a dreadful start to the new season, losing their first four games. Keane was appointed on August 28, 2006, with the club second from the bottom of the Championship. Working alongside Sunderland legend Niall Quinn, who was now chairman, they turned the team’s fortunes around and won the league title and promotion back to the Premier League. Keane won the Manager of the Year award in the process.
Keane kept the Black Cast in the Premier League before stepping down as manager the following season.
Four months after departing Sunderland, Keane was appointed the new manager at Ipswich Town. Sadly for the club, Keane could not replicate the success he brought at Sunderland. He left Portman Road having won 28 and drawing 25 of his 81 games in charge.
Ipswich would be his last job as a manager as he accepted positions as assistant manager at Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and the Republic of Ireland national team.
When the Sunderland manager’s job became available once again earlier this year, it was believed that Keane was the front-runner to take over and had the backing of the fans. However, despite talks, the Black Cats appointed Alex Neil.
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