Manchester United icon Roy Keane has received huge support to take over as caretaker manager following the sacking of Ruben Amorim. Caretaker Darren Fletcher is currently in charge, but United are actively searching for a new manager, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick believed to be the frontrunners. Former team-mates Paul Scholes and Nicky Butt publicly supported Keane’s appointment until the end of the campaign. Speaking on his podcast The Good, The Bad and The Football, Butt supported this idea, claiming that Irish players have “changed incredibly over the last 10 years”.
Gary Pallister confirmed Keane has been out of management for some time, but said he still believed his former colleague could make a “change” at Old Trafford. He suggested the 54-year-old “will definitely command respect”, which is often a key factor in eliciting quality performances from players. Bryan Robson has also backed Keane’s chances of returning to the dugout after an extended absence as manager. In October, the United great suggested his compatriot could team up with former teammate John O’Shea to manage the Republic of Ireland.
But Keane, who has not been involved in club management since leaving Ipswich Town in 2011, could already be damaging his prospects at Old Trafford. It comes after Sir Alex Ferguson objected to his continued stay at the club, suggesting the Scot would “continue to stink”.
“You’ll see who’s making the decisions at Manchester United. Ferguson and[former United chief executive]David Gill still seem to stink,” he told Sky Sports recently. “Who’s making the decisions? (co-owner Sir Jim) Ratcliffe, (director of football Jason) Wilcox?”
That said, it’s possible that Ratcliffe actually appreciates Keane’s defiant stance on Ferguson. Eventually, the British billionaire and minority owner reduced his responsibilities at Old Trafford, ending his £2.16 million-a-year global ambassador role in 2024.
Keane, who has been away from the dugout for more than 10 years, has said he would welcome his return as manager. Speaking on the 2023 Stick to Football podcast, he revealed:
“I’ve been out of management for many years now, but I still get frustrated every Saturday that I don’t have a team. And I haven’t been in management for 10 or 11 years, so that feeling will never go away.”
Keane, who left United in controversial circumstances in 2005, is clearly keen to return to management, but has repeatedly ruled out a return to Old Trafford. Moreover, he has already expressed his preference for Amorim’s successor, backing Newcastle manager Eddie Howe as a potential successor.
“I like what Howe has done. He’s managed a lot of games and his team is playing good football,” he said this month. “I know he has his critics, but I like the way he played at Newcastle and the same thing at Bournemouth. He’s managed 700, 800 games. I like his calmness. I think Man United need that sometimes.”
“I like emotional people. I’m quite an emotional person, but his calmness, what he did for Newcastle. He got them into the Champions League and won the (Carabao) Cup. I want to see him go there.”
Such statements suggest that the former midfield enforcer does not see himself in the role. Despite this, there is no shortage of support for Keane’s position, with many supporters keen to see a new approach from United’s next manager.
