FAI chiefs met with Roy Keane three times over managerial vacancy
Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane, right, with manager Martin O'Neill during the UEFA Nations League game against Wales. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile
As the FAI closes in on the appointment of a new men’s team manager, it has emerged that officials have met Roy Keane on three occasions about the vacancy.
Keane won 67 caps, captaining his country to the World Cup finals in 2002 without playing in them, and served as assistant during Martin O’Neill’s reign between 2013-2018.
The FAI on Wednesday reaffirmed their timeline of next month for unveiling a permanent boss, a delay caused by what director of football Marc Canham stated as “existing contractual obligations”.
"The board of the FAI had its scheduled end of month meeting this morning and a range of issues were discussed,” they said.
"The process to appoint our senior men's team head coach will now be finalised, led by the CEO (Jonathan Hill) and director of football (Canham), with an announcement planned in April, as planned."
Keane, 52, has been working as a pundit for Sky Sports and ITV since departing Nottingham Forest as O’Neill’s sidekick in 2019.
In July 2021, he rejected an offer to return as boss to Sunderland. Keane had begun his managerial career with gusto by elevating the Black Cats from bottom of the table to 2007 Championship winners.
It is known Keane was part of the original shortlist prepared by the FAI in the aftermath of Stephen Kenny’s departure last November.
The understands that the headhunting team consisting of Hill, Canham and board member Packie Bonner held discussions with Keane three times since.
Hill has in the past stated his preference for an Irish manager being at the helm, a situation Canham later said would be a major plus.
Defender Dara O’Shea, in pushing John O‘Shea’s candidature this week, emphasised the importance of the FAI choosing a contender with a deep connection to Irish football.
Speaking in January during one of Sky Sports’ Overlap podcasts, Keane provided an intriguing answer when asked colleague Jamie Carragher about the prospect of him managing his country.
“Yeah, international football – I enjoyed it when I was a coach for a while,” Keane said. “I like the dynamics of it, where you’re not in every day, and it’s not about bringing players in and I suppose dealing with the board every week or the academy.
“Yeah, that does appeal. I did like the dynamics when I was coaching with Martin with the Irish team. We had a little bit of success, and when you’ve had a little bit of success, then it’s brilliant, and obviously there are disappointments. So, yeah, that could be an option.”
Whoever the incoming boss is, the intention is for them to start immediately.
The big reveal is being timed to avoid overshadowing the build-up to the opening women’s Euro qualifiers, which conclude at Lansdowne Road on April 9 against holders England, a stance echoed by President Paul Cooke.
"We’re on schedule for an April announcement,” he told RTÉ following the four-hour board meeting that also included a discussion on Hill’s future. “The (precise) timing is not certain at this moment in time.
"We’ve narrowed the process well down. We would be comfortable that the candidate will fit into our plan and processes going forward. The intention is that the manager will start as soon as possible."
That doesn’t appear to be John O’Shea, despite the caretaker boss making an impression over his temporary tenancy for the stalemate against Belgium last Saturday and 1-0 defeat to Switzerland on Tuesday.
He hasn’t hidden his desire to be upgraded to permanent residency but is more likely to resume his berth as assistant - perhaps a reunion with former Manchester United teammate Keane.
"If I could be the manager of Real Madrid, Manchester United or Ireland in the morning, I would make it happen," he admitted as the questions persisted about the identity of the chosen one.
"I would tell you, I would give you the clarity, I don't have it either. From the wording I’ve heard before the previous games, they said they have (a manager). That’s my understanding of it.”
O’Shea confirmed he wasn’t approached by the FAI when the initial round of interviews were arranged. "No, that wasn't a scenario for me because they were talking about a manager with experience."
The Waterford man didn’t rule out returning under the new regime, which begins in June with friendlies against Hungary and Portugal, in his original guise of assistant.
“That’s a discussion I’d have with the potential incoming manager but it’s a wait and see job.”
