Martin O’Neill says Roy Keane prime club manager material again
Both men are technically out of work right now as their original two-year deals with the FAI ended with the climax of the qualification campaign for the 2016 European Championships.
However, both O’Neill and FAI CEO John Delaney have been making positive noises about an extension for the manager since last June while Keane has hinted at both a return to the club scene and at a longer spell with his country since the play-off defeat of Bosnia.
“First things first, I would definitely want him,” said O’Neill yesterday. “We would certainly want him to the Euros. After that I don’t think we can predict the future. Do I think that Roy is ready to go back into club management if that is what he wants to do? Absolutely.
“He would be great at it. He has been great, I have said that umpteen times, but he is young and he has had a taste for it and he will eventually want to go and make his own decisions. That’s not to say that we don’t listen to him.
“But I absolutely want him here for the Euros and if we continue on who knows? I might be wrong but I don’t think at this minute that he is any mad rush to clear off.”
O’Neill was yesterday named joint Philips Sports Manager of the Year for 2015 alongside his namesake Michael who guided Northern Ireland to France for what will be their first appearance at a major tournament since 1986.
Martin O’Neill’s contract extension has been described as imminent for some time now but the former Leicester City and Sunderland manager has constantly played down the need to get it done right away and he did so again this time.
“We haven’t done anything yet, genuinely. I was euphoric after we qualified. Then I came back for a wedding with my daughter that I had to concern myself about and then there is Christmas but I think we will get a few moments in January to sit down.
“There is no immediate rush, he said before adding for absolute clarity: “Absolutely. Do you think I want to give up my place at the Euros? There is a reasonable mind of all people to have a look a bit beyond (that).” First things first, though.
O’Neill travels to Paris this weekend for the Euro 2016 finals draw and, like Michael O’Neill, he will be casting an anxious eye over players this next six months or so as they go about their business with their clubs.
A limited number of injuries is the main priority but the Republic boss will also be hoping that as many of his men as possible reach May and June having banked as much game time as possible — something which always concerns Irish managers, north and south.
“I think this becomes an important issue. And I think that the players realise this. This is not me telling club managers what to do, absolutely not, but players now, if they seriously want to get involved and what to show....
“I can’t go into the summertime carrying players who’ve maybe played two or three games or I certainly can’t carry a host of players doing that. There’ll be one or two maybe who I might think ‘well, maybe he can do something for us,’ even though he has not played the requisite number of games.
“But here from January on in, there is no reason why players ... I’m not saying that they should be immediately putting international football at the foremost of their mind, but they’ve got to be thinking about playing matches.” Aiden McGeady’s name was the first put to him in that context.
“People like McGeady have to play. Absolutely. Darron Gibson needs to play. We’ve got a number of players who need to play who have got the potential to be here. Aiden McGeady’s goal against Georgia, to me, was as important a goal as Shane Long’s against Germany. That’s my view.
“Aiden McGeady has the ability. You know what I think of Aiden McGeady as a player and what I think of him in terms of raw natural talent but he needs ... Aiden McGeady’s best games under me were when he was properly physically fit, having done a reasonable pre-season with Everton.”
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