Keane for United? Butt and Scholes can’t quite fathom it

Manchester United’s managerial merry-go-round has been spinning like a fairground ride with no brake since Sir Alex Ferguson walked away in 2013. From David Moyes to Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Ralf Rangnick, Erik ten Hag and now Ruben Amorim, the club has lurched from one reset to the next, with very little stability and far too much panic.

And that is exactly why Nicky Butt and Paul Scholes have been left scratching their heads over one glaring omission. In their view, Roy Keane should at least have had a conversation about the Manchester United job by now. Not necessarily the keys to the kingdom, you understand, but at the very least a proper sit-down and a serious discussion.

Butt and Scholes can’t understand the snub

Speaking on The Good, The Bad and The Football podcast, Butt admitted he could not get his head around the idea that Keane has never been seriously looked at for the Old Trafford hot seat. And fair play, it is a debate that always gets people talking, because Keane is not just another ex-player with a decent CV and a fancy suit.

He was a captain who set standards, dragged teams through difficult spells and understood exactly what Manchester United used to stand for. Butt’s argument is simple: if a club is struggling for authority, why would you not at least explore a man who lived and breathed that edge every day?

Scholes backed him up, saying Keane’s sharpness, leadership and ability to manage people would suit the club’s culture, even if he would need the right coaching support around him. In other words, Keane as the figurehead, with others filling in the tactical or technical gaps. That’s not a mad idea in football terms; it is actually pretty sensible.

Why the Keane idea keeps coming back

Let’s be honest, Keane is the sort of name that stirs the blood at Old Trafford. The fanbase would react with a mix of nostalgia, excitement and probably a fair bit of fear, because everyone knows he would not arrive to tick boxes and make friends. He would demand standards, and some players would absolutely hate him for it.

But that is also the point. United have spent years trying every flavour under the sun: superstar managers, club men, and elite coaches from across Europe. Yet the same old issues keep coming back. At some stage, you have to wonder whether the club needs less polish and more steel.

That said, wanting Keane and appointing Keane are two very different things. He has been away from the top managerial grind for a long time, and the game moves quickly. Reputation alone does not win matches, and Manchester United cannot afford another romantic gamble that ends in tears.

There is no question Keane would bring fire, authority and a healthier level of accountability. But whether that translates into results at the highest level is another matter entirely. Football is full of brilliant players who never quite made the leap in management, and United would be taking a big risk if they pinned their hopes on sentiment.

For now, the discussion remains just that: a discussion. But when legends of the club are openly saying they cannot believe Keane has never been sounded out, it tells you plenty about the state of affairs. United may not need another soft-touch appointment — they may need someone who walks into the room and changes the temperature instantly.

For more football opinion and coverage, visit the best betting sites homepage.