Roy Keane turns down chance to take over as Sunderland manager

Roy Keane has turned down the chance to take over as Sunderland’s manager and make an emotional return to the club where he held the job from 2006 to 2008.

Keane, who has not worked as a manager since his sacking by Ipswich in 2011, had been Sunderland’s first choice to replace Lee Johnson.

The League One club, who have lost their past three games, had thought on Wednesday night that Keane was ready to take the post but he has informed them he will not be coming.

Keane led Sunderland into the Premier League in 2007 and kept them in the top flight before resigning after a disagreement with the then owner, Ellis Short.

He has been working as a television analyst and last had a coaching role in 2019 with Nottingham Forest, as an assistant to Martin O’Neill. He has also worked as a No 2 alongside O’Neill with the Republic of Ireland and Paul Lambert at Aston Villa since leaving Ipswich.

The 50-year-old former Manchester United midfielder was on a Sunderland shortlist with Grant McCann, Alex Neil and Sabri Lamouchi, although other candidates could now come into consideration.

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