I fell out with idiots who never did anything with their lives but I would return to management

Manchester United legend Roy Keane was previously manager of Sunderland and has previously turned down a return to the club as head coach

After calling out “idiots” he had a falling out with at the club in the past, Manchester United legend Roy Keane has been linked to a return to Sunderland.

Back in 2006, the immensely accomplished midfielder had a fantastic start to his coaching career at Sunderland. With a little assistance from Danny Simpson and Jonny Evans, two United loanees, he led the Black Cats to Premier League promotion and won the Championship in his first season in command. Sunderland finished 15th in his only season in the top league until he was fired in December 2008.

Mike Dodds is in interim management while the Championship team searches for a new manager after parting out with Michael Beale after 12 games in charge. In February 2022, Keane declined the opportunity to rejoin Sunderland, although he has since stated his desire to return to management, and with Beale’s departure, he has unavoidably been connected to the position once more.

After leaving Sunderland, Keane subsequently had a spell in charge of Ipswich Town and also worked as Martin O’Neill’s assistant with the Republic of Ireland. More recently, he has been linked with the vacant Ireland job and was seemingly open to international management.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast last month, he said: “I’d like to go back in [to management], but I’m not desperate to sign any contract for anybody.” A regular guest on The Overlap, Keane has also given an appraisal of his time in charge of Sunderland and it seems that the former United captain has no regrets about how he managed his players.

While discussing the topic of Jadon Sancho’s fallout with United boss Erik ten Hag in September, Keane said: “I fell out with a few [players, while managing]. I didn’t banish them, but I fell out with lads when I was manager of Sunderland, Ipswich, when I was working with Martin [O’Neill] at Ireland. I look back and I analyse it, and I was convinced – and I still am – that I was right.

“The lads that I fell out with were idiots who never did anything with their lives or their careers afterwards, so that gives me a bit of comfort. No one’s ever proved me wrong on that side of it. I have pulled players in, and you would have discussions and arguments, but players can be wrong obviously.”

However, it appears that Keane has begun to question his desire to return to management. Earlier this month, Keane suggested he had been unimpressed with the discussions he had held with different teams. “I’m swaying now towards not going back into it,” he admitted. “I just think it’s not worth the hassle. People constantly disrespect you, sometimes with offers or time wasted.”

A possible return to Sunderland broke down at the negotiation stage, two years ago, “I’ve said it before. The deal has to be right for everyone. It didn’t fall into place last week. It wasn’t meant to be. Everything has to be right. The right challenge. The right contract. You have to fancy it and I’ve not had that opportunity the last few years. There has not been a club where I think; ‘I’m the right fit for that club’.”