“The players need shaking up.”
Former Republic of Ireland and Aston Villa star Andy Townsend has voiced his belief that his ex-teammate Roy Keane would be the perfect man to take over the current Manchester United dressing room were Erik Ten Hag to leave.
The Corkman hasn’t been in a football management role since 2019, when he left Nottingham Forest after just five months in charge.
Before that, Keane spent five years working alongside Martin O’Neill at Republic of Ireland, which was preceded by a disappointing two year spell at Ipswich Town and a successful two and a half year term as Sunderland boss during which he led the team to promotion to the Premier League in his first season.
The ex-Ireland and Manchester United captain has spent the last few years giving his thoughts every weekend as a pundit on Sky Sports and, more recently, has become a fan favourite on The Overlap’s Stick To Football.
While many assume that the 53-year-old packed away his management overcoat for good in 2019, he recently said on an episode of Stick To Football that the Ireland job appeals to him if he were to get back into management.
“HE’S KEANE!” 📰
— The Overlap (@WeAreTheOverlap) January 25, 2024
Roy admits that the Ireland job appeals to him if he were to get back into management. 🇮🇪 pic.twitter.com/JafKJ0pthF
Andy Townsend, however, is eyeing Keano up for one of the biggest jobs in football.
The former ITV Sport commentator told talkSPORT: “I don’t even know if Keano would want to do it, but what he would do – if he said he would take the job you can imagine what it would be like the first game back at Old Trafford, the expectancy.
“The players need shaking up. Get hold of them and get them going. If you can’t handle that, you’re at the wrong club for sure and you’re almost in the wrong business.”
He continued: “Because there comes a point, where the boys must get in their cars and think ‘this isn’t good enough’.”
Erik Ten Hag is under immense pressure to keep his job after United’s 3-0 loss to Spurs at Old Trafford on Sunday.
It’s been a dismal start to the season for the Dutchman, whose team have just seven points in six games.
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Back in June, Keane reflected on his rights and wrongs during his managerial career.
“I don’t think I’ve ever done anything wrong,” he said. “I fell out with lads when I was manager of Sunderland, Ipswich and when I was working with Martin with Ireland.
“I looked back, I analysed it and I’m convinced – and I still am – that I was right. The lads I would fall out with were complete idiots who did nothing with their careers or their lives afterwards.
“So that gives me a bit of comfort. No one has ever really proved me wrong. No one has ever proved me wrong on that side of it.”
