Roy Keane wants an ex-Man Utd team-mate of his as No2 if he lands the Celtic job, and it’s caused plenty of talk on social media.
We could see two former Red Devils midfielders in the dugout at Parkhead next season in a bid to reclaim the Scottish Premiership title back from Rangers where Steven Gerrard has just brought them success.
Roy Keane is reportedly high up on the short-list to replace Neil Lennon and has held talks with the hierarchy, according to reports.
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
The report includes other names such as Scotland manager Steve Clarke, Red Bull Salzburg chief Jesse Marsch and Chris Wilder, who was recently sacked by Sheffield United.
However, should the Irishman be appointed, he could be joined by 46 year old Nicky Butt, who made a surprise exit from Old Trafford last week.
The Athletic claims Butt did not take kindly to John Murtough’s appointment as football director, a role he wanted to take up if given the chance.
www.fanbanter.co.uk – Fan reaction to the latest football news, gossip & funnies
Butt told the club’s official website: “Having come through the Academy myself to play almost 400 games for Manchester United, it has been an absolute privilege to come back and work with a new generation of talent making that same journey.
“I already know from my playing days how difficult it is to leave Manchester United.
“But it feels like the right moment for a new professional challenge.
“I look forward to exploring the opportunities that build on the great experiences I’ve had here over the past nine years.”
Butt has plenty of option available to him, having already been linked with the Preston North End job whilst a link up with Wayne Rooney at Derby also could happen.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, first-team manager, said: “Nicky will always be a legend of Manchester United as a six-time Premier League winner and, of course, an integral part of our Treble-winning team. That pedigree has made him a great source of guidance and inspiration to our Academy players since he returned to the club.
“We are all going to miss him around the Aon Training Complex but Nicky knows he will always be welcome back.”
Head of Academy Nick Cox said: “It has been a privilege to work with Nicky over the past five years. He has been central to the work that has been done to strengthen the Academy in recent seasons and his unique perspective as a former Academy graduate has been a constant reminder to us all to remain committed to the club’s incredible history whilst constantly striving to innovate and improve.
“While we are sorry to see him go, Nicky’s legacy will continue in the many young players that remain in our programme that he has helped to identify, inspire and develop. It is this that will ensure that the pathway from Academy to First team continues for many years to come.”
TOP 3 CURRENT FAVOURITES:
Eddie Howe – 4/6
Eddie Howe has been linked with many clubs for the manager’s position for however long he stays unemployed.
The 42-year-old guided the Cherries to more than 450 games across two spells spanning more than a decade but stepped down this summer following the club’s relegation to the Championship.
Their five-year stay in the top flight ended despite a 3-1 win at Everton on the final day of the season.
Howe also made more than 300 appearances as a player in the famous red and black stripes.
Howe was initially appointed AFC Bournemouth caretaker manager in December 2008, with the club sitting on -17 points at the bottom of the Football League.
Against all the odds he secured their safety and followed it with promotion from League Two the following season.
After a brief spell in charge of Burnley, a masterstroke from owner Maxim Demin bought Howe back to Dorset, and he then proceeded to achieve two further promotions in three seasons, leading the Cherries to the Premier League, where they remained for five years.
John Kennedy – 11/4
John Kennedy stayed on at the club as their interim manager after being associated with the Lennon regime. The former Celtic and Scotland defender has been blamed for the club’s defensive frailties in 20-21.
However, if Damien Duff is to be believed, Celtic have accidentally landed themselves a top interim manager. The ex-Celtic and Republic of Ireland assistant, has been full of praise for Kennedy in the past and spoke enthusiastically about him in an interview with The Celtic View in January 2020.
“Let me tell you, working with John Kennedy, that man would stay at Lennoxtown until 8 or 9pm at night!”
“I might have said I was getting used to a 9-5 when I first started coaching, but when I moved up to the first-team, I was more from 8am right through until who knows when.”
Additionally, Duff spoke to Open Goal about his ex-colleague’s qualities, stating that Kennedy was hamstrung by Neil Lennon.
“I would always end up over-analysing, then end up saying nothing at all. I was always just conscious of, especially when you are working with someone like John… John Kennedy is without doubt one of the best coaches in the world.
“It comes down to detail, his detail is second to none, I’ve never seen detail like it. Some coaches can be like Ray Charles and not see things that are going on in the game whereas John doesn’t miss a trick. He sees the problem, “how are we going to fix it?”. Absolutely frightening.
“Like I said they’d be lost without him. Him and the gaffer, the gaffer is the best man around up there. I worked a lot with John, spent a lot of time late into the night watching games. I guess that I… built a nice bond with him. Listen I sound like his agent, clubs are going to be chasing him but like I said he is so class.”
Roy Keane – 4/1
Celtic have opened talks with Roy Keane about becoming their new manager, Football Insider decided to reveal on Thursday morning.
The 49 year old Irishman has not managed a team for 10 years but could now be set for the Parkhead hotseat in a unexpected return to the dugout.
A Celtic source has told Football Insider that discussions are already underway with the ex-Premier League player and the club are ready to offer him the job.
If an agreement can be reached, which looks very likely, it would bring him out punditry and into management once again, and boy has he been controversial of late with his opinions.
Keane is known to have strong association with Celtic after ending his playing career with a six-month spell at the Scottish Premiership outfit he supported as a child.
He has been linked with the a role with Celtic a number of times in the past and has been among the list of candidates since Neil Lennon’s exit.
Keane’s last managerial post ended in bitterness at Ipswich Town in 2011, following a more impressive spell at Sunderland.
He also had assistant manager posts with the Republic of Ireland, Aston Villa and, more recently, Nottingham Forest.
Roy Keane wants the ex-Man Utd team-mate Nicky Butt as his No2 if he lands the Celtic job, but do you want them in at the club? Let us know via our socials!
You must be logged in to post a comment Login