Keane to call time on Reds career
REDS captain Roy Keane has shocked United fans by admitting he is set to walk away from Old Trafford at the end of the season.
The inflential skipper's contract is set to expire at the end of this season, but it had been expeced that he would extend his stay at the club by another year and start his move into coaching.
But instead the Irishman has announced that he intends to leave the club once his deal is up, and will look to extend his playing career outside the Premiership.
Celtic are expected to be his first choice if a move to Parkhead becomes available, with Keane being able to start talks over a move out of the club in January.
The 34-year-old, currently sidelined with a broken foot, said on MUTV that he had rejected any likelyhood of moving straight into Sir Alex Ferguson's backroom team.
"I would like to play another year or two but I do not think it will be at Manchester United," he said.
"I would be surprised if I was offered a new contract and even if I was, I would not expect it to be until the end of the season but by then I will have already made a decision about what I am going to do.
"There comes a time for everybody when they have to move on and I am prepared to play elsewhere.
"I think it will be good to experience a different dressing room. It wouldn't be an English team though, coming back to Old Trafford and going into the away dressing room would be too hard for me to stomach."
Keane has been the midfield lynchpin of Ferguson side since first arriving as a raw youngster from Nottingham Forest in 1993. In 12 years at the club he racked up 480 senior appearances and playing a major role in almost all United's successes - although suspension cost him his coveted place in the Champions League final win in 1999.
And he admitted he had been expecting to leave the club for the last year.
"My gut reaction last season was this would be my last year and I still feel that way," he said. "You have to learn and be prepared to move on. Life will not stop when I leave Manchester United.
"It might be an opportunity to go into management or coaching somewhere else and it is best to make a clean break because coaching at Manchester United doesn't really appeal."
Keane has made no secret of his desire to follow former Red Devils' skippers Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson into management and intends to complete his UEFA coaching badges over the next few months.
But, interested lower league clubs who feel they may be able to attract the most influential domestic player of his generation, might be advised to look elsewhere.
"I don't want to look too far ahead because I want to play on for a bit yet but I wouldn't want to drop too far down," he said.
"Your first job in management is an important one. I would like to go to a club with ambition, a decent fan base and some decent players."
REDS captain Roy Keane has shocked United fans by admitting he is set to walk away from Old Trafford at the end of the season.
The inflential skipper's contract is set to expire at the end of this season, but it had been expeced that he would extend his stay at the club by another year and start his move into coaching.
But instead the Irishman has announced that he intends to leave the club once his deal is up, and will look to extend his playing career outside the Premiership.
Celtic are expected to be his first choice if a move to Parkhead becomes available, with Keane being able to start talks over a move out of the club in January.
The 34-year-old, currently sidelined with a broken foot, said on MUTV that he had rejected any likelyhood of moving straight into Sir Alex Ferguson's backroom team.
"I would like to play another year or two but I do not think it will be at Manchester United," he said.
"I would be surprised if I was offered a new contract and even if I was, I would not expect it to be until the end of the season but by then I will have already made a decision about what I am going to do.
"There comes a time for everybody when they have to move on and I am prepared to play elsewhere.
"I think it will be good to experience a different dressing room. It wouldn't be an English team though, coming back to Old Trafford and going into the away dressing room would be too hard for me to stomach."
Keane has been the midfield lynchpin of Ferguson side since first arriving as a raw youngster from Nottingham Forest in 1993. In 12 years at the club he racked up 480 senior appearances and playing a major role in almost all United's successes - although suspension cost him his coveted place in the Champions League final win in 1999.
And he admitted he had been expecting to leave the club for the last year.
"My gut reaction last season was this would be my last year and I still feel that way," he said. "You have to learn and be prepared to move on. Life will not stop when I leave Manchester United.
"It might be an opportunity to go into management or coaching somewhere else and it is best to make a clean break because coaching at Manchester United doesn't really appeal."
Keane has made no secret of his desire to follow former Red Devils' skippers Steve Bruce and Bryan Robson into management and intends to complete his UEFA coaching badges over the next few months.
But, interested lower league clubs who feel they may be able to attract the most influential domestic player of his generation, might be advised to look elsewhere.
"I don't want to look too far ahead because I want to play on for a bit yet but I wouldn't want to drop too far down," he said.
"Your first job in management is an important one. I would like to go to a club with ambition, a decent fan base and some decent players."
