TalkSPORT presenter Simon Jordan has spoken out on “unique phenomenon” Roy Keane after the Manchester United legend has been linked with a sensational return to management.
Keane has been out of football management since his spell at Ipswich Town came to an end in 2011, with the Irishman later becoming a regular pundit for Sky Sports.
Despite leaving his last managerial post 12 years ago, the 52-year-old Sky Sports pundit worked under Martin O’Neill as assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland.
Former United captain Keane, whose first managerial spell was at Sunderland, later served as assistant manager at Aston Villa in 2014 and Nottingham Forest in 2019.
Jordan on Keane being linked with Wales position
According to Nottinghamshire Live, Keane has emerged as a surprise candidate to replace Rob Page as Wales manager from next June.
Page, who succeeded United legend Ryan Giggs, is under contract with Wales until after the 2026 World Cup after he inked a new four-year deal in 2022.
However, the current Wales boss faces an uphill battle to stay in his role if the Dragons fail to secure qualification to Euro 2024 in Germany.
Joined by O’Neill on talkSPORT, Jordan admitted that he is an “admirer in lots of ways” of Keane and praised him as an “outstanding leader” in his United career.
But the former Crystal Palace chairman said Keane was a “mixed bag” as a manager and remains unconvinced on how well the United legend would do at Wales.
“I’m a Roy Keane admirer in lots of ways,” Jordan said.
“I’m not entirely sure, present company [O’Neill] excluded, I appreciate the company that he keeps.
“But notwithstanding that — in terms of Gary Neville and that motley crew — he’s an interesting observer of the game.
“I do think as a player, he was a unique phenomenon. As a manager, I think he was a mixed bag. To me, he felt a little bit one-dimensional, but that’s the outside looking in.
“If you look at the fact domestically, he hasn’t managed for 12 years, it’s very difficult to argue for him to be in an international framework on the back of the body of work he’s done.
“Wales is a certain set-up. I wouldn’t have been advocating for him to be going into Wales. I think he’s an outstanding leader. I didn’t think it translated into football management, and I don’t know why.
“That might be because of the character we saw on the pitch, or the intolerance and preparedness not to accept lower standards.”
Keane open to management return
Keane’s last run as manager saw him sacked by Ipswich in 2011 after 20 months in charge at the club.
The Irish hardman left Ipswich in 19th in the Championship table at the time of his sacking, with his former side losing seven matches in nine fixtures.
Despite his past history as a manager, Keane refused to rule out a return to the dugout and admitted that he liked the “challenge” that awaits him as a coach.
Speaking on The Overlap’s Stick to Football show, he said: “I’d like to go back in, yeah.”
Keane added: “I think it’s just the challenge of getting back in.
“I’ve been out of management for a number of years now, but I’m still agitated every Saturday about not having a team and I’ve not managed for 10-11 years, so it never goes away.”
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