Keane plays it cool on Ireland manager’s hot-seat
Keane has been touted as a possible successor to Giovanni Trapattoni, but made it clear he is far from champing at the bit to return to management.
“I have not thought too much about it to be honest,” said Keane. “I have more important things to be worrying about.”
Martin O’Neill is the bookmakers’ favourite to land the job and Keane remarked that the Derry man would be a “very good choice”, while also lauding the FAI for not rushing into a snap appointment in the wake of Trapattoni’s exit.
“A lot of managers have been linked with it, a lot of good managers. There are plenty of favourites. I’d know a lot about Martin O’Neill. I think Martin would be a very good choice, a good guy for the job.
“I think the FAI have done the right thing in stepping back and taking their time.
“There are a lot of good managers out there who are out of work. I think the FAI have done the right thing in stepping back and seeing who is out there.”
Ray Houghton and FAI High Performance Director Ruud Dokter have been tasked with headhunting candidates for the role, with Keane admitting there had been no contact on the part of the FAI towards him.
“I haven’t been contacted by anyone, and as I said, I haven’t thought too much about it. I think Martin O’Neill would be a very good choice, simple as that.”
Questioned on whether he believed the association would consider approaching him given the Cork native’s chequered history in the green shirt, the former Manchester United captain responded: “I haven’t a clue, you’d have to ask them.”
Ireland’s bid to secure qualification to the 2014 World Cup in Rio went up in smoke following the recent defeats to Sweden and Austria respectively, but Keane maintained that Irish soccer is by no means in a perilous state, adding the talent is there to reverse the team’s recent poor fortunes. “I don’t think it is as bad as everyone is making out. There is good young players coming through and I think it is a good job for a manager, definitely.”
