After helping the Republic of Ireland clinch a spot in Euro 2016, Roy Keane‘s coaching stock is higher than ever before, and new reports indicate that he is ready to capitalize on his Ireland success to return to the managerial ranks in the Premier League.
In a recent interview, Keane admitted that he has been in discussion with Ireland manager Martin O’Neill about his ambitions to manage again despite disappointing stints with Sunderland and Ipswich Town.
“I’m going to meet with Martin over the next couple of weeks,” Keane told The Sun.
“Martin knows that I still have that ambition to get back into it.
“I’m not really one for networking or applying for jobs and I’m enjoying my role here.
“I certainly want to stay on for the Euros, then we’ll play it by ear. I’m planning to meet the manager over the next couple of weeks to just have a chat — again, to be fair, to see where he stands.
“I think Martin knows I have that ambition to get back in the ring but I’m also loving my role with Ireland. I’ve always said that I’ve been very, very lucky…”
Keane, as a midfielder, played for Manchester United for 13 years, winning 16 titles and five PFA Team of the Year selections. After he retired in 2006, Keane took on the manager’s job at Sunderland, compiling 42 wins in 100 matches before resigning. He was hired by Ipswich Town in 2009 but won just 28 of 81 matches before being fired.
In November 2013, Keane was named assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland to O’Neill after the team failed to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. With O’Neill and Keane’s leadership, Ireland qualified for Euro 2016 – the first time in the team’s history that they qualified for the tournament two times in a row.
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