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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Liam Wood

Roy Keane already hinted at management return with brutal Patrick Vieira comment

Manchester United great Roy Keane already hinted at a return to management when taking aim at former foe Patrick Vieira last summer.

Forging one of the most iconic rivalries in Premier League history, those two served up countless on-field battles in their playing careers - and one or two feisty ones in the tunnel.

But more than a decade on from leaving his position as Sunderland manager, Keane may take a little step closer to his first meeting with Vieira in the dugout.

Of course, the Sky Sports pundit has work to do in that respect if he is rehired at the Stadium of Light.

Sunderland remain in the League One promotion chase but, after they suffered a humiliating 6-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers last time out, the Black Cats sacked Lee Johnson and are set to interview Keane over the role he previously held between September 2006 and December 2008.

The former United captain went on to manage Ipswich Town for 18 months.

However, for the last 13 years, the Irishman has been a regular on our TV screens with Sky Sports - and other such broadcasters - while serving as an assistant with the Republic of Ireland national team, Aston Villa and most recently Nottingham Forest.

As for Vieira, meanwhile, he has Crystal Palace performing well in the Premier League.

Do you think Keane will succeed at Sunderland? Have your say in the comments section below.

Things were not going so smoothly for the Arsenal great last summer, though, as he was forced into the punditry studios alongside Keane for ITV Sport during Euro 2020 coverage. That came after his sacking by Nice and, offering his 'sympathy' for that decision, Keane also hinted that he might one day return to the dugout.

Speaking to Micah Richards about Vieira on Micah and Roy's Road to Wembley for SkyBet, he joked: "He panders to me and that's it. He just lost another job. Why do you think he's doing the punditry? He lost his job. That's why we're all f***ing doing it!"

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