Roy Keane looks set to reunite with former manager Martin O’Neill at Nottingham Forest.
Keane and O’Neill spent five years together with the Republic of Ireland before their departure from the national side late last year after just one win from their last 10 matches in charge.
Roy Keane is at #nffc training ground this morning and back in football – will be confirmed later as Martin O’Neill’s assistant. Story @guardian_sport
— Daniel Taylor (@DTathletic) January 28, 2019
O’Neill earned his first win as Forest boss with a 3-1 win over Wigan Athletic last weekend and he said at his first press conference as Reds manager that he would leave a spot on his coaching team open for Keane should he choose to reunite with him at the club.
“I would dearly like him to join us, this has happened very quickly and he has a number of things to sort out himself and we’ve had some discussions here,” O’Neill said.
“I’d like him to join if that’s the case, there’s a spot open for him and I’m hoping that may happen. It may not, he has a number of things obviously to consider himself, personally and professionally, but he will keep me informed but I would dearly like him to join up.”
O’Neill admitted that Keane could be difficult to handle at times with his public falling out with both Jon Walters and Harry Arter in Ireland camp serving as high profile examples of his combustible nature but he added that his temperament is ultimately what makes him special.
“He was a great asset to me when I was the manager of Ireland. We had some really great days.
“He’s tough to handle, there’s no doubt about that, but that’s what probably makes him pretty special. He was a special footballer, drove Manchester United on for 10 years and he didn’t win those things by just sitting around.”
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