Wales chief 'wanted Roy Keane in June' as pressure builds on emotional Rob Page
Wales are interested in appointing Roy Keane as their manager - with current boss Rob Page fighting to keep his job.
Page succeeded Ryan Giggs, initially on a caretaker basis, in November 2020 and led them to World Cup qualification in 2022 - ending their 64-year wait to appear in the finals. Wales have now qualified for three major tournaments in the last decade.
Yet Wales are in serious danger of failing to qualify for Euro 2024. Defeats to Armenia and Turkey have left them needing to win their final three qualifiers to have a realistic chance of reaching the tournament via the conventional route. Their next game is against Croatia on Sunday, where defeat would likely leave them needing to rely on the playoff spot reserved for teams who have impressed in the Nations League.
It's unclear at this stage whether Keane, who has parked his managerial career to become a successful pundit, would be interested in becoming the next Wales boss. Accepting an international gig would allow him to continue working as a pundit for Sky Sports.
As reported by The Sun, Football Association of Wales CEO Noel Mooney is a fan of Keane and tried to persuade his colleagues to hire the Irishman. Yet they ultimately decided to stick with Page and won't make a decision until after qualifying ends.
Harry Maguire thinks Man Utd lost another dressing room "leader" on deadline day
Page, who signed a new four-year contract with Wales in 2022, is popular among the squad and is determined to prove his critics wrong. The ex-defender was asked about the speculation during his pre-match press conference on Saturday.
Cutting an emotional figure, he said: "We’ve got to ignore all the noise. It is noise and that’s it, so we try to protect the players as much as we can. I have not spoken to the chief executive at all, so I could not tell you whether it is true or not (that he is to be replaced).
"All I have to focus on is, before the World Cup I signed a four-year deal and the long-term plan for me is to start introducing young players into the group. We are in a transition period and we have said this time and time again.
"We have lost big players like Joe Allen and Gareth Bale. Not just for what they bring us on the pitch, but also the value they add in the changing room. We’ve seen the talent we’ve got coming through. We’re developing these young players and it’s going to take time.
Wales could turn to Roy Keane if they fail to qualify for the Euros (Getty Images)Do you think Roy Keane will become the new Wales manager? Let us know in the comments below!
"I get the frustration. We want to win games of football but there’s got to be a bit of perspective. I’m doing what’s best for the FAW, not myself. By introducing these young players, it is better for Wales in the future."
Mooney has promised to conduct a "serious review" into Wales' qualifying campaign. Page's side need to finish in the top two of their group to directly qualify for Euro 2024. They are currently fourth, three points behind Croatia in second and six points behind Turkey in first.
Victory against Croatia in Cardiff on Sunday would put Wales back in the frame before their final two qualifiers next month. The Euro 2016 semi-finalists take on Armenia in Yerevan on November 18 before welcoming Turkey to Cardiff three days later.
Keane is an experienced manager after guiding Sunderland to the Premier League in 2007. He also spent 21 months in charge of Ipswich and was the Republic of Ireland's assistant manager for five years, giving him experience at international level.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
