Carry on Keane, says ex-United star

ROY KEANE is already moving towards the final phase of his UEFA coaching licence — but his retirement plans are beginning to gather dust as he continues to boss Premiership midfields.

The United skipper will attempt to get his pro coaching licence this summer, the final level in UEFA’s three-part programme towards management and coaching.

Keane has already secured his UEFA A and B levels but needs the third vital part if he hopes to work in the Premiership in the future.

However, the 33-year-old has found a new lease of life recently and will not consider quitting playing. His Old Trafford deal ends in the summer of 2006 and his solicitor and adviser Michael Kennedy said no new contract talks have yet been mooted.

But Keane intends to squeeze every last ounce out of his playing days, saying: “As long as I am providing something for the team and influencing them, I will carry on.

"When the moment comes when I feel I am not doing that and I am falling below the standards set by this club, I will know it is time to call it a day. I know I am getting older and have had some bad injuries, which take their toll. But right now, I feel fit and I feel good.”

The decision to shelve thoughts of hanging up his boots was welcomed yesterday by former United midfielder Sammy McIlroy: “Roy is doing things now that I never saw 18 months ago,” Sammy told the Manchester Evening News.

“We all thought his box-to-box days were at an end. I think he even said that himself. But against Birmingham, having scored the opener, I then watched him one second going for another goal and the next he was back in his own box defending against an attack. His fitness levels on Saturday were unreal.

“To get back to what he was doing years ago after the injuries he has had has been incredible. I have never seen Roy as fit as he is now for a long, long time.

Keane said: “I am taking the coaching badges and am enjoying that.

“It could be something I go into after I finish playing. I have also thought about management but that is in the future. Right now, I want to concentrate on doing a job as a player.”

Keane is convincing a lot of people that he could follow Alex Ferguson into the Old Trafford hot-seat.

McIlroy said: ““The old saying that great players don’t necessarily make great managers does ring true in many cases but Roy would be one of the exceptions. He’s a winner.

“He could certainly lift players and players would want to play for him.”