Roy Keane would be 'amazing' for Sunderland, says former Black Cats striker

Roy Keane would be ‘amazing’ for Sunderland and actually helped, not hindered, by the sporting director model, says former Black Cats striker Brian Deane.

Keane has been persistently linked with a return to Sunderland and was reportedly strongly in the frame when Alex Neil eventually got the job in January 2022.

He isn’t expected to be in the running this summer when Sunderland appoint a new boss to replace Michael Beale, but Deane thinks the club could be missing a major trick there.

Asked by Sunderland Nation via Casino Days about a potential return for Roy Keane, Deane said: “I think he’d be amazing.

“Whatever people say about someone like Roy Keane, he’s got values and he’s a winner. There are times that you ask players to follow someone, but if they haven’t got that kind of character and they haven’t played and done it at the top, then it’s very difficult to respect the manager.

“Especially at a club like Sunderland, perhaps it needs that kind of larger-than-life person is going to make the players step up and realise they’re playing for Sunderland and guess what… it’s a big club and they’d have a manager who wouldn’t allow you to hide. There would be no hiding place under Roy.

“The players will have somebody that can shepherd them, is honest about situations, doesn’t have to turn round and pacify anybody – he just does it properly.

“We get managers nowadays that say the right things that everybody wants to hear in the press, but a lot of the people who say that have never worn the shorts.

“Sunderland is a place filled with passionate fans, and they want someone who matches their ambitions, and that’s exactly what Roy is."

One reason often put forward for Keane being a bad fit for Sunderland is the fact the club have firmly attached themselves to the sporting director model.

It is assumed that Keane would not fit into that and it would be only a matter of time before he and Kristjaan Speakman clashed.

Deane, though, believes that model would actually work to Keane’s advantage, as it would free him to focus on what he does best – leading.

“I think it depends on the approach really, and I think it’s important to recognise their (sporting directors) role as the bridge between the main board and the actual coaching staff.

“If you’re not working with a sporting director then it’s a lot more. The sporting director implements the kind of singings based on what the manager wants, and the style of play the want to play is down to the manger.

“I think that helps Roy in this situation. I can’t see how it doesn’t. You have to have a good relationship, and it means a certain amount of flexibility on both sides, but I think it would help him because it allows him to focus on getting performances out of the players.”

Deane was speaking to Si.com via Casino Days, the live Casino of choice globally. Head to the website to check out Casino Days’ casino section.