Roy Keane teases managerial return after failed Sunderland talks last year

Roy Keane has teased a return to football management after having not held the top role at a club since leaving Ipswich in 2011.

Speculation was rife that the former Manchester United legend was on the verge of returning to the club he lead to promotion to the Premier League back in 2007 with talks taking place between club and coach before eventually reaching an impasse.

Neil was chosen instead and took Sunderland to the Championship after winning promotion through the League One play-offs against Wycombe Wanderers at Wembley. Keane was recently touted as a potential replacement for Steve Bruce at West Brom following his dismissal with his name cropping up for jobs regularly.

NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25:   Roy Keane looks on prior to the Carabao Cup Semi Final 1st Leg match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at City Ground on January 25, 2023 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)placeholder image
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND - JANUARY 25: Roy Keane looks on prior to the Carabao Cup Semi Final 1st Leg match between Nottingham Forest and Manchester United at City Ground on January 25, 2023 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)

Keane has performed various coaching roles since 2011 including being the assistant manager at Aston Villa to Paul Lambert and also to Martin O’Neill at Nottingham Forest and the Republic of Ireland.

When asked if he would consider a return to management with the Republic of Ireland or elsewhere, Keane told The Overlap: “I don’t sit around waiting for managers’ jobs to come up – I don’t, honestly.

"So that idea of waiting for any manager to lose his job is not in my mindset. I’ve said before that I like the idea of going back in – where that happens? I don’t know. But I don’t sit around hoping managers lose their jobs. Far from it.”

News you can trust since 1873
Follow us
© 2026 Iconic Media Group Ltd. All rights reserved.Cookie SettingsTerms and ConditionsPrivacy notice