Former Nottingham Forest favourite Roy Keane has been linked with a return to management for the first time since he left the City Ground in 2019.
Keane's last role within a coaching set-up was a six-month spell as assistant manager at Forest three years ago, but the 50-year-old Irishman came close to a return to Sunderland in February before conversations broke down and Alex Neil took the reins instead.
According to The Times, Keane has "discussed the Hibs job with friends" but has hesitations over owner Ron Gordon, who sacked Shaun Maloney after just 120 days in charge. Maloney's predecessor, Jack Ross, was sacked despite taking the Scottish outfit to the League Cup final with a 3-1 semi-final win over Rangers.
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Keane - whose only full managerial roles have been with Sunderland and Ipswich Town - made over 100 appearances for Forest before signing for Manchester United in 1993 and is now working as a regular pundit on Sky Sports.
Keane confessed it was not written in the stars for him to make a return to Sunderland.
He said: The deal has to be right for everyone. It didn’t fall into place last week. It wasn’t meant to be. Everything has to be right – the right challenge, the right contract. You have to fancy it."
Despite it being three years since he was last in the dug-out, Keane said he is being patient when it comes to returning to pitchside.
"I’ve not had the opportunity the last few years,” he explained. "There has not been a club where I think, ‘I’m the right fit for that club’. You need a bit of luck. The right club has to give you the call. That hasn’t happened. It’s no big deal."
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