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Football

18th Dec 2018

Graeme Souness calls for Roy Keane to be the next Man United manager

Robert Redmond

“Someone steeped in Man United history.”

Manchester United are looking for a new manager. On Tuesday morning, they finally took the decision to remove Jose Mourinho from his post after the club’s worst start to the season in 28-years.

United have the largest wage-bill in the Premier League but are currently languishing in sixth-place, 19 points behind Liverpool.

The club appear unlikely to finish in the top four, the football has been dreadful and Mourinho has been disgruntled over the last few months.

He has been critical of his players and the club’s transfer policy. His departure has felt inevitable for months and United finally took action on Tuesday morning.

Thoughts now turn to Mourinho’s replacement. The club are set to appoint a caretaker coach until the end of the season before choosing a permanent manager.

Mauricio Pochettino and Zinedine Zidane appear the most likely candidates for the role.

However, Graeme Souness had another suggestion when asked for his choice to be the next United boss.

According to the former Liverpool coach, either Roy Keane or Ryan Giggs should be given the role.

He wasn’t joking either.

Souness reckons both men are “steeped” in the traditions of the club, and as such should be considered for the job.

Keane and Giggs are two of the best footballers to ever feature for United. Keane was the team’s captain and most important player during United’s most successful period. No one has played more times for the club than Giggs.

However, neither man has done enough in the dugout to warrant being appointed the next United manager.

Keane had a successful spell in charge of Sunderland. But he hasn’t managed in the Premier League in 10 years and hasn’t been a manager since being sacked by Ipswich Town in January 2011. He was Republic of Ireland assistant coach between 2013 and 2018.

Ryan Giggs was United’s caretaker manager after the club sacked David Moyes in 2014. He was then Louis van Gaal’s assistant coach and is currently Wales manager.