ROY Keane believes he will be a better manager due to his experiences at Ipswich Town.

To send a link to this page to a friend, simply enter their email address below.

The message will include the name and email address you gave us when you signed up.

 

To send a link to this page to a friend, you must be logged in.

The Irishman always spoke dismissively about punditry during his time as Blues boss, but he has undertaken an increasing amount of television work of late.

And he let slip recently that he had watched a Wolves game three times, giving credence to speculation that he may have applied for the vacant managerial position at the Midlands club.

It’s now been more than a year since Keane was dismissed by Town owner Marcus Evans. The Blues finished 15th during his first full season in charge and were just three points above the relegation zone last January when he was sacked.

“To me it is all about learning,” said Keane. “I have got five children and I think I am a better father to my fourth and fifth. I have learned to be a better husband too.

“I think my driving has improved the longer I have been driving and I think my management will improve the longer I stick at it.

“Will I get an opportunity to get back into it? I don’t know. If the opportunity comes along I think I can do well for a club, but because of the way things finished with Ipswich I may have to wait a while, which would be disappointing.

“I have been out of work in terms of a football manager over a year and the longer you are out of it, the harder it is to get back into it.

“I possibly learnt more from my time at Ipswich than at Sunderland, because when things go reasonably well you get pats on the back but when things are disappointing – like they were at Ipswich – you have got to learn from it and hope you do not make them again.”

Reflecting on his time at Portman Road, Keane said: “I was very proud that we played a lot of young players. I think there were about eight from the academy that made their debuts.

“Ultimately you want to do well in the league though and we are in the business where if you are not achieving what you set out to do, you are going to pay the price.”

Asked what he felt went wrong for him at Town, he added: “There was disappointments losing one or two players – the likes of John Walters and Jon Stead. And to be fair we had quite a few injuries too. To just cope with a lot of young players then took its toll on the squad, but that is the way it goes sometimes.”

He continued: “Over the course of my time at Ipswich we did not win enough league matches.

“I think we drew about 20 games which is ridiculous. If you want to be successful, draws don’t get you anywhere too quickly.

“You have to learn in this job and learn quickly.”

– Roy Keane was speaking to Yahoo! as part of their partnership with the League Managers’ Association. For more, go to: www.yahoo.co.uk/sport

19 comments

  • Canaries winding us up or aggressive inadequates hating people who have ruined our club! Now you know who you are? Jim, Roy and Paul all wantedwant to succeed. They have to do it their way or it ends up being playeragentCEOOwner power which has got nothing to do with football...and always fails. Stop creating all these villains and move on. Boy how some people hate Roy "he ruined our club" - what a load of nonsense. Whether he makes a great manager or not is yesterdays news. However our obsession with blaming everyone when WE don't sing at matches anymore and get behind our team - when the loudest voices I hear at Portman Road are people tearing into our players, calling referees and linesman "cheats" (tell me what that means..please), Should never have let him go! Should never have signed him!.....that's football folks...believe it or not that's why we love it and are passionate about it. Finally Football punditry (great term that) on BBC, ITV, 5, Sky etc.....is referee obsessed and mostly so bland and buddy, buddy (ex Liverpool and associated friends) it makes us shout at the telly (flat screen is a term so nouveau riche...lol) and doesn't analyse anything or refuses to say it as it is for fear of upsetting people (e.g Tevez, John Terry & Suarez..etc...all should have been shown the door ages ago). Paul Jewell has got us winning games and now he's not so bad..Is he? He signed "some get us up" players who didn't gel together or defend in front of our back four...but now one of his first signing Drury is playing tremendously well and the player Roy said he would never let go out on loan - Luke Hyam is a real gem...this kid has it all in spades....Who'd have guessed?........."football bloody hell!"

    Report this comment

    PuskasinBoots

    Saturday, February 25, 2012

  • Roy Keane was a world class player at the very top level, playing under the very best managers, but he does'nt know as much as armchair man Sterroo.

    Report this comment

    tel

    Thursday, February 23, 2012

  • P.S: Let's hope Keane applys for the Norwich job when Lambert gets snapped up by a proper football club

    Report this comment

    Warkys_Tash

    Thursday, February 23, 2012

  • @ Brian Wren: Are you a friend of RK's or something?? Your essay is certainly not how the rest of us see it. Quite a bit of what you say in there is factually wrong too. Bottom line RK's team didn't win at the start of the 2009 season for 15 games! I would have had a better record than that myself, mainly because Jordan Rhodes would have been the first name on my team sheet. Keane's biggest mistake. You only have to listen to MoTD comments of a true legend and professional - Alan Shearer - 'Jordan Rhodes the player that Roy Keane at Ipswich didn't think was good enough and let go' Enough said. Move on.

    Report this comment

    Warkys_Tash

    Thursday, February 23, 2012

  • ITFC4LIFE - OK maybe some funds made available to RK - but there was an undercurrent that not for his first choice players. The prime example is Chopra who he was told we could not afford - now lo & behold money available to PJ to buy the player who is apparently going to win the golden boot & get us into the play offs ?????????????

    Report this comment

    Old Timer

    Thursday, February 23, 2012

  • Certainly no gloves there then!!!!!!! I also think positive of RKs time at Town. 2010 most successful calendar year since 2004, semi of major cup, blooding the youngsters, the standing and prestige of club increased immensely, most of the signings and youths are nowstill in todays 1st team, ( inc Murph and Chops - who possibly would have kept RK in the job if allowed to sign at time) also Derry and Nugent. We lost the soft underbelly and the 'comfort zone' mentality was on the way to be eradicated. RK always had time for the kids at training , the future , this also had positive effect on the parents. Generating income for the club and ME company through media spotlight daily. This puts alot of pressure on his shoulders, also the opposition raises their game against us because of his name. He showed great commitment as always, moving to area with his family and he loved Suffolk. He tried to gain an assistant in Brendan Rodgers-as he was offered the Swans job, Gary Ablett sadly of course, this would have been the experience that he maybe lacked. Acknowledge the Rhodes and Klug situation but JR dad moving on from GK coach may have influenced ( still not proven at high level ) agree should have been loan if either he or Wickham had to go. As for Bryan Klug he was assistant to Jim Magic when John Gorman was brought in to assistant, meantime Sammy M was brought into Academy, therefore BK was in limbo. Spurs were aware of situation and offered him a title. Priskin was a proven and talented player at this level, but just didn't perform enough. Leadbitter was a fighter and held the team together with Lukie making us hard to beat , yes drab at times but the foundations had to be laid. We seen the heavy defeats since to suggest this defensive style had to be implemented initially. Fulop and Murph were stronger gks than any we had since and the loss of McCauley through injury was a blow at end of 2010. We also had the likes of Colback, Livermore, Townsend on loan now plying trade in premier league. On balance to be fair I think RKs time at Ipswich brought the club back into the limelight and with that pressure the concensus should be of a positive one. It was certainly great being A town fan at away grounds. RK will always want to do more and this brings the pressure to steam at times but a more amiable, intelligent, fluent, humorous, family man i have yet to meet.

    Report this comment

    Brian Wren

    Thursday, February 23, 2012

  • At the end of the day people, Roy Keane was brought in and stupidly made a pledge that he'd have us in the premier league in 2 years. Asides from his well documented poor man management, It became obvious his initial promise wasn't going to happen 16 months into his reign, so quite rightly he went. Paul Jewell has come in and correctly stated that this is not a quick fix and people have to be patient. He met his initial remit which was to keep us up. Apart from a sizeable majority of posters on here, and EADT itself, most of us fans as well as his employers have listened to what PJ originally said and have stuck by him when maybe things have not gone so well. Things are starting to improve, and still there's some of you out there who make it your mission to slate PJ in the ridiculous hope of him getting the push. He's spent not even a third of what RK did, were scoring more goals than we have in years and some of the football we are watching as of late has been top drawer stuff. If we give him time, like he has stated he needs, I think we will get where we want to be. When that happens, we won't have to listen to the constant barrage of carp we hear from messers Steroo and Scott. A reason in itself to get behind PJ and his "ragtag collection of mercenaries and old has beens"!!

    Report this comment

    MrDiddle

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • just like to wish Roy all the bestfor the future,never forget how welcome he made my grandson on his trip to the training ground.

    Report this comment

    david peters

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • @ Old Timer how can you say " He did not seem to have the funds made available to Jewell" when he spent; 2.5 million on Leadbitter, 1.7 million on Tamas Priskin, 1.5 million on Edwards and 1.7 million on Lee Martin... not exactly spending peanuts was he?

    Report this comment

    ITFC4LIFE

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • For me I was thrilled when Keane got the boot. Yes he played youngsters but I never felt they looked like they were developing. PJ keeps getting flak over the youngsters but he always said he was looking to add youth too. He hust wanted to get some experiance in what was a naieve side. Lets not forget it was PJ who gave Josh Carson he 1st real chance, Hyam and Martin have come on in leaps and bounds since PJ has been here and I think Tommy Smith has too. I think that shows PJ is a good coach and manager. As for Keane well he chose to let stead go, i was not aware at the time the the board forced that on him, correct me if i am wrong. I also think stead going was positive as he never fulfilled his potential as a player. I though under Keane we looked drab. The one thing down have almosy always done is play with style. Even under Joe Royle, a notorious long ball merchant we played some great stuff. Keanes team always looked like they had 1 plan. Lump it up to the big lads, Now we look like some of that flair and grace is starting to return. I also thinks keans transfer record was not great. Fullop, Odea (Even on loan), priskin and healy were all shocking signings, and only under PJ have i seen DD look like hes might actully be a defender. When you look back at RKS entire footaball life I dont see much to reccomend hi, Yes he was a great player. He was also someone who seemed to struugle with the weight of expectation. He walked out on ireland twice therw toys out of the pram at MU. I am told from a source close to sunderland that he would walk into the dressing room announce that 12 the side was never going to play for the team again only to go play them the following week. Ultimately when things didnt go his way he lost his temper and acted like a child. As alfie inge hangland found out This is not the sort of man i want in chage of town and I am deligted he has gone. That said i agree i think he did conduct himself with dignity here and you cant deny the transformation that Sunderland underwent when he joined. I just never though he would fit at a club like ipswich. To be fair when JR was appointed I was stunned. I dint want him either but i think he did a really good job and proved me wrong. I wish Kenao had as well but for me Id take PJ and his reccord anyday. The only thing we have to fear is hutchings being given the job if PJ leaves. Great assistant. Terrble, Terrible manager. All in all thank RK for your contribution. Look forwad to town stuffing wherever you end up next.

    Report this comment

    TrueBlue

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • PJ has got it right at last,by accident or design it doesn't matter which now, and if he would just learn not to criticise players in public and through the media he would be the manager for me and with whom ITFC should keep going . Keane seemed a cold fish who appeared isolated from his players, but what do we know of what goes on behind the scenes?

    Report this comment

    JOHN BURLS

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • Totally agree with Old timer RK may have got things wrong but he went with dignity....unfortunately there is no time in football - "success now," "get em up" "make the playoffs"....all the best managers Sir Bobby, Sir Alex, Harry Rednapp would have been cast aside today for lack of initial success.

    Report this comment

    PuskasinBoots

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • Roy Keane failed at Ipswich because he was a terrible man manager, tactically naive and bought very badly. Ask John Walters. His tenure was a low point in the great history of our club.

    Report this comment

    Chris Bruce

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • I think he should go back into football management preferably with Norwich so that he can ruin them in the same way he ruined us! Keanary is the future.

    Report this comment

    John Maynard

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • david bradley

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • Sadly Roy Keane's learning curve was at Ipswich Town's expense.

    Report this comment

    FRANK WESTON

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • He needs to stop making clueless comments as the mad irish foil to the amiable brummie on ITV's awful football coverage if he wants to try and rebuild any credibility.

    Report this comment

    Rob Steroo

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • I know I am in a minority here - but I believe Keane would have been a success at Ipswich given time. He did not seem to have the funds made available to Jewell but at least gave youth a chance - which we see belatedly from Jewell may after all be the way to go rather than loan players reaching the end of their careers. His biggest mistake for me was one he acknowledged in not getting in an experienced number 2 - with the result that when things did not go well at the end he became rather isolated Of course letting Rhodes go will always be a blemish - but on the other hand Hyam would probably have had a full season under his belt by now - instead of just breaking through again & being opffered a paltry 1 year contract. I feel Roy Keane always handled himself with dignity - & never critisised the club - despite the fact that he had to deal with Clegg Whatever you think of RK's playing style he was a winner & a football man through & through - mas opposed to Clegg who must be the epitome of the 'prawn sandwich brigade'

    Report this comment

    Old Timer

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

  • Football is about opinions and I accept others will disagree with me - as is their right. However in my own humble opinion I feel that Roy Keanes record at Ipswich compares very favorably with that of Jewell. At least the youth got a fair chance and he was honest enough to say what he thought rather than what others wanted him to say. I obviously do not know what went on behind the scenes but I still cannot see why he was given the chop whilst Jewell survived after what was a worse period of management. I know who I would rather have at Ipswich - but as I say that is just my opinion.

    Report this comment

    SussexTractorBoy

    Wednesday, February 22, 2012

1980-81 The greatest season in Ipswich Town's history. Pre-order your copy here - only £19.81

Homes24
Jobs24
Drive24
MyDate24
MyPhotos24
FamilyNotices24
MyMoney24MyVouchers24

Visit the Evening Star website Visit the East Anglian Daily Times website
Click here to read more of our digital publications