Roy Keane Returns To Old Trafford

So it’s finally time for Roy Keane to return to Old Trafford for the first time as a manager of another team. (What do you reckon the odds are that he has something written into his Sunderland contract stating that when Ferguson finally calls it a day, that he is allowed to talk to Utd?! pretty short odds if you ask me!)

Roy Keane the manager

Anyway, he should get a pretty warm welcome, or at least he should, when he leads his Sunderland team out with his old mentor Ferguson, well that’s according to Ferguson and I reckon he’s right.

“He will get a great reception,” he told a press conference yesterday. “I think that’s one of the things that makes me proud of being a manager of our football club and it tells you what a great club we are.”

it’s fair to say that Keane was pretty much revered by the fans at Old Trafford during his 12 years at the club, in which in played 480 games and scored 51 goals. Keane will be praying he leaves Old Trafford with 3 points. Could you imagine that! However, one thing Keane won’t be doing this afternoon is eating a prawn sandwich, after his famous remarks about some of the “fans” that go to Old Trafford!

The 37 year old former Utd and Eire captain led the club to seven league titles. However he suffered a few injuries and made some outspoken attacks on his team-mates which possibly hastened his departure to Celtic at the end of 2005. Keane however had always said that he wanted to play for Celtic before his playing career came to an end.

Keane soaks up the atmosphere at his testimonial game between Celtic and Man Utd

At the time Keane left Ferguson did admit that it was difficult to see one of his best ever signing depart. “It’s happened to me so many times with players coming to an end of their career. It’s a difficult time because you get attached to them. They are almost family and when you see that moment they have to leave it’s not easy, because they have been great players and great servants to you.” Do you think that’s what he thought when he kicked the boot at Beckham’s head just before he got rid of him to Real Madrid?

Ferguson has apparently not been surprised by Keane’s move to management. Keane has been an instant winner by guiding Sunderland to the Championship title after they were in the Second Division relegation zone. Although you have to say that was an excellent achievement, it’s a far cry from managing at the sharp end of the Premiership. So it will be very interesting to see how he gets on this season. However Keane does seem to be one of those people with real belief and drive in everything he does.

Their could be another return for a former Utd old boy as well today. Andy Cole, who scored 121 goals in a six year span at the club, has signed a one year deal with Sunderland and could make his debut for the club at Old Trafford today.

United picked up their first win of the season last weekend at the expense of a very unlucky Tottenham Hotspur and Ferguson has admitted that they will need to have more of a cutting edge to their game.

Louis Saha’s return from injury will Ferguson a little however, Ronaldo will miss the Sunderland game as he completes his three match ban for that stupid head-butt and of course both Neville and Rooney are still out. Plus Ferguson no longer has Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as an attacking option after the striker announced his retirement earlier in the week due to a succession of knee injuries. The striker, 34, will now apparently take a role working with the back-room staff at Old Trafford, taking his first step towards a possible coaching career. Ferguson said of Solskjaer, “He was a fabulous professional, a wonderful human being and a dedicated footballer. He’s been a credit to our club and to himself and his family. I think he can be a very good coach” Ah, bless!

The Soccer Blogger