Roy Keane drops major hint amid Celtic return rumours

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Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Manchester United legend Roy Keane has admitted that he would be open to returning to management amid rumours that he could replace Martin O’Neill as Celtic boss.

Keane, 55, has not been a head coach since being sacked by Ipswich Town in January 2011, but he was spotted in the stands during Celtic’s loss to Rangers before the international break and reports speculate that he could return to his former club as their new manager.

O’Neill has hinted that he will consider his future at Celtic Park following three consecutive losses across all competitions and Keane has fuelled rumours that he could replace the 74-year-old by confirming that he would be willing to return to management if the right opportunity presents itself.

Asked if he would be tempted to return to management following years as a pundit, Keane told Micah Richards on Sky Sports: “Strange enough, at weekends when I’m watching games, there are teams I watch and you go, ‘I think I could go in there and do a job’.

“But it’s mostly at weekends. It’s not through the week. It’s not Monday morning when I’m having my scrambled egg at the local cafe, just having a paper. Yeah, all these managers driving up and down the motorways and stresses.

“But yeah, I do. I think there’s always something there. The pilot light is still on for something.”

Could Roy Keane become the next Celtic manager?

While O’Neill is reportedly considering his long-term future as Celtic boss, following his appointment on a permanent basis over the summer, his side remain top of the Scottish Premiership table and an imminent exit therefore seems slightly unlikely.

Furthermore, appointing Keane would be a hugely risky decision given he hasn’t been a head coach in over 15 years. He did win the Championship Manager of the Season award back in 2007, after guiding Sunderland to promotion, but he has been out of the managerial game for a long time and Celtic may prefer to hire somebody with more recent experience in the dugout if O’Neill departs.

However, Keane is a boyhood Celtic fan and he would almost certainly be tempted to explore a return to the club if O’Neill steps down.