Roy Keane 'offered' sensational return to management by former club Sunderland

Roy Keane has reportedly been offered a sensational return to management with former club Sunderland keen to bring him back to the Stadium of Light.

The Manchester United legend has been out of management since being sacked by Ipswich 11 years ago, although he has had assistant roles at Aston Villa, the Republic of Ireland and Nottingham Forest.

However, prior to that ill-fated reign at Ipswich he had a very successful two-and-a-half years at Sunderland, leading them to promotion in his first season in charge and then keeping them in the Premier League the following year.

Sunderland sacked Lee Johnson on Sunday after a dismal 6-0 defeat to Bolton, but they are in a relatively strong position in League One, sitting third in the table.

The Telegraph report Keane has already had talks with the club and has been offered the job until the end of the season with an option to extend the contract after that.

Keane will reportedly now decide if he will take the job or remain in his role as a pundit for Sky Sports, where he regularly works with Sunderland director Dave Jones.

"When I went into management at Sunderland, we were second bottom of the Championship but Sunderland was a great club for me," he told Gary Neville in an episode of The Overlap.

"I could have done better at Ipswich, but there were plusses at Ipswich.

Keane quit as Sunderland boss in 2008 after falling out with the then owner Ellis Short, although it is a decision he has hinted he regrets.

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