Perilous time for Sunderland players as Sunderland set to appoint Manchester United Legend Roy Keane as manager after Lee Johnson dismissal.
Roy Keane has emerged as Sunderland’s first choice to fill their managerial vacancy and could be set to make an emotional return to the Stadium of Light.
Keane, who managed Sunderland from 2006 to 2008, looks likely to be offered the manager’s job at the League One club after they sacked Lee Johnson on Sunday.
The former Manchester United midfielder led Sunderland into the Premier League in 2007 and kept them in the top flight.
Keane quit as Sunderland boss in 2008 after falling out with the then owner Ellis Short, although it is a decision he has hinted he regrets before.
“I didn’t resign or walk out,” he wrote. “I said I couldn’t work with Ellis Short.
An agreement was reached…. I don’t think he was sorry to see me go, and I didn’t want to work for him.
“It still saddens me. I still think I should be manager of Sunderland. I really liked the club, and I liked the people.”
However the 50-year-old feels he has unfinished business at Sunderland and retains a deep affection for the club
Keane, who led Sunderland to the Championship title in 2007, has support from within the club and is seen as the type of character they need to reignite their League One promotion push.
Lee Johnson was sacked on Sunday after a 6-0 defeat at Bolton left them third in the table and out of the automatic promotion places.
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I would be fighting De Gea at half-time. There is no getting away from that. I would be swinging punches.”
” Maguire. De Gea. I wouldn’t even let them on the bus after the match. Get a taxi back to Manchester!
Keane on David de Gea and Harry after conceding a first-half goal to Tottenham Hotspur.
The ownership believe the dressing-room needs a winning culture instilled within it, and Keane’s name has been spoken about with great enthusiasm and will speak to the club in the coming days.
It’s widely known that Roy Keane is a no nonsense man from the time immemorial.
He’s aggressive, combative, tunnel visioned, consistent, and no-nonsense (there’s that word again) and a natural born winner.
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Keane, 50, last managed at Ipswich in 2011 but is keen for a return to the dugout.
He has since worked as assistant boss with the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and, most recently, Nottingham Forest in 2019.
He has also forged a hugely successful punditry career with Sky Sports.
Whether Keane is convinced by the project at Sunderland remains to be seen. Other names in the frame include Grant McCann, Neil Warnock and Neil Lennon.