Why does every ex-Man Utd star want Roy Keane as manager?

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 13 Jan 2026 06:14 CST
• 6 min read

Nieuws

Wayne Rooney is the latest in a long line of ex-Manchester United players to tip Roy Keane for the vacant manager position.

The Red Devils, once again, are looking for a new manager following the dismissal of Ruben Amorim, who spent around 14 months in charge at Old Trafford. The Portuguese replaced Erik ten Hag last season but was unable to oversee a significant increase in performance on the pitch.

In 2024/25, Man Utd suffered their worst ever Premier League finish (15th) and despite a £200 million outlay on new signings in the summer, the team have not showed enough improvement in the eyes of club chiefs. The final nail in the coffin for Amorim came via an explosive rant at the board following a match against Leeds.

Darren Fletcher was placed in temporary charge and it looks like Michael Carrick will be interim boss until the end of the current campaign.

Carrick is a former Man Utd player and it seems in the eyes of many that this is a vital factor for a Red Devils manager in 2026. Several ex players complain about a lack of 'Man Utd DNA' or 'Man Utd identity' and that's why they want a former player in charge, with plenty wanting to see Keane in the job.

"Of course I would!"

Wayne Rooney wouldn't think twice about joining Michael Carrick's staff at Manchester United if an offer arrived. pic.twitter.com/nGEAugQjHH

— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) January 12, 2026

"Whether Michael goes in or if that's Fletch [Darren Fletcher] or John O'Shea or myself, it needs people who know the football club," Rooney said on his podcast for the BBC.

"Roy Keane - I know Roy has had his opinions, I said about Roy going in earlier in the season. Having people who know the club, who care for the club and understand what it takes to be a Manchester United player - that's where the club needs to be.

"The club has lost its identity, it's lost that family feel, if you like. Whether it's Ole [Ole Gunnar Solskjaer] or Michael, this is an opportunity to bring that back, bring the spirit of Manchester United back to the football club."

Rooney then said he would jump at the chance to join Carrick's coaching staff if given the chance.

He is not the first, and probably won't be the least, former Man Utd player to tip Keane for the job.

Speaking on The Good, The Bad and the Football podcast: Class of 92' midfielder Nicky Butt said:

“Man Utd have tried everything: Superstars in Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho, one of their own in Ole Gunner Solskjaer, then one of Europe's best coaches in Ruben Amorim, with a few in between. Some have been shocking, so why not have a conversation with Keano?

🗣️ "People forget how good Roy Keane was as a manager..."

Roy Keane as Manchester United manager. Nicky Butt & Paul Scholes are a big fan of the move 🍿👊 pic.twitter.com/kje0Z5SJpg

— The Good, The Bad & The Football (@goodbadftblpod) January 6, 2026

“People might laugh, but he would lead the dressing room, he might fall out with a few, he might knock a couple out, let’s be honest but the fanbase would go [together and upwards].

“It might never happen. It will take a real strong leader to employ him but sit down and have a chat with him.

“Roy has changed unbelievably in the last ten years – he’s always been funny and great company but he’s calmed down so much and he definitely knows his flaws and would bring people in to accommodate that.

"He will blow and cause problems but he would put something in the changing room that it’s not had for a long time."

On the same podcast, Butt and Paul Scholes were asked a number of names and they simply had to reply 'Yes or 'No' about the name being the next Man Utd manager.

They both replied "Yes" when Keane's name came up.

Scholes says Keane coming back would be akin to Cristiano Ronaldo's return as a player when it comes to reinvigorating the fanbase.

He added: “The reaction would be like Cristiano Ronaldo coming back. It probably won’t happen but people forget how good Roy was as a manager.

“He did an incredible job at Sunderland. The reason he has calmed down may be because he hasn’t had to deal with players.”

Gary Pallister, meanwhile, told HRB: "Roy’s a big name and a legend. He’d certainly command respect in the dressing room and shape it up. He’s a winner and he’d change the mindset. He would put something in the changing room that it’s not had for a long time."

Former United keeper Ben Foster thinks that Keane would actually be better served as Man Utd sporting director rather than manager.

"I'm going to put this out there. I think somebody like Roy Keane should be a Manchester United sporting director, somebody who understands the exact type of player that needs to be playing for Manchester United," he said on his Fozcast podcast.

"I want somebody who's going to pick me players that will go out there every day and just battle. If the owners trust him, which they should do, then it's a match made in heaven."

Why Keane won't be Man Utd manager

These ex-team-mates are all set to be disappointed as it is highly unlikely that Keane will be appointed Man Utd boss.

Career-wise, he has only managed two clubs in Sunderland and Ipswich and his last stint as a manager was 15 years ago, though he did act as assistant to Martin O'Neill with the Republic of Ireland.

He had a win rate of 42% at Sunderland with a large amount of matches in the English Championship and 34.6% with Ipswich. Even taking that higher percentage, it is still lower than the win rate of Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Erik ten Hag while at Man Utd.

While these ex-players talk about wanting someone who knows and loves Man Utd, Keane has continually said he no longer has any close affinity with the club.

“I don’t support Man United, absolutely not! I wouldn’t call myself a fan," he said on Stick to Football.

"The results wouldn’t make or break my weekend. When I left United, I did cry that morning. I cried in my car.”

More recently, Keane made comments that upset a number of Man Utd fans when he said that Sir Alex Ferguson was hanging about the club "like a bad smell" following the revelation that Darren Fletcher asked Ferguson's permission before taking the caretaker role.

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