Manchester United legend reveals his plans for Euro 2016 after helping Ireland qualify

Keane has been assistant manager to Martin O'Neill but is still interested in management

ROY KEANE joked about his part in steering the Republic of Ireland to Euro 2016, but he will surely view it as something akin to an act of redemption.

 

Keane infamously walked out on his country’s World Cup finals campaign in 2002 after a row with then manager Mick McCarthy over their preparations for the tournament in Japan and South Korea.

He did return to play again under McCarthy’s successor Brian Kerr, but his influence as assistant manager during the Euro 2016 qualification campaign has been described as “enormous” by Martin O’Neill, who took the controversial to appoint him as his right-hand man two years ago.

As Lansdowne Road went into full party mode after the play-off victory over Bosnia on Monday night, Keane refused the invitation from one fan to pull on a T-shirt celebrating the passage to France.

 

Just as typically, the former Manchester United captain was anxious to play down his part in the success by admitting he’s not sure if he has justified his salary from the FAI, while making a passing reference to his walk-out from Ireland’s Saipan training camp in 2002.

Asked if he was looking forward to next summer’s tournament, he joked: “Hopefully it’ll be a bit different to the last one I was involved in!

“I’ve not had to do too much to be honest with you. Obviously the manager is making the big calls. We’ve had a group of players who have worked their socks off and given everything for their country.

 

Walters scored twice to send Ireland through to Euro 2016

“I’ve probably done very little, I’m not sure I can even justify my wages. Obviously the manager deserves massive credit because he’s the one making the calls, and he’s got most of them right.

“It’s a great achievement for the players, the manager and the FAI. It was a tough night against Bosnia, a tough group, a tough play-off.”

O’Neill paid a glowing tribute to Keane’s work, saying: “As big decisions go, bringing Roy in is as good a decision as I’ve made. He’s not taking too many of the accolades but his influence has been enormous.”

Keane, who has managed Sunderland and Ipswich and was Paul Lambert’s No2 at Aston Villa, makes no secret he is seeking a return to club management.

“Stuff [offers] has come up, but I’ve always been focused on the [Irish] job,” he said. “Martin knows I’ve still got that ambition to get back into it [management]. I’m not one for networking or applying for jobs and I’m enjoying my role here.

 

“Obviously I want to stay on for the Euros and we’ll play it by ear. I’m planning to meet the manager in the next few weeks to have a chat and see where he and all the other staff stand.”

Keane believes the Republic can make an impact at the Euros even though they will be seeded in pool four for next month’s draw alongside Wales, Northern Ireland and first-time entrants Albania and Iceland.

“We face a challenge because we don’t have a big pool of players and the seedings are likely to make it a difficult draw for us,” he said. “But people didn’t think we would get out of our group. We beat Germany so they won’t be a problem – we took care of them so it’s just Spain and the rest of them to worry about!

“We want to surprise a few people. We won’t be short of hunger, desire and determination. Hopefully we can give whoever we play a good game.”