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Sunderland’s owners speak out on Roy Keane’s failed return to the club in the latest series of ‘Sunderland Til’ I Die’… as they claim bringing him back would have been ‘fun for the documentary!’

  • Sunderland’s owners have spoken out on Roy Keane’s failed return to the club
  • The Man United legend came narrowly close to a sensational return in 2022
  • Is it ever OK to leave a game early? Listen to the It’s All Kicking Off podcast 

Roy Keane came very close to a sensational return to managing Sunderland back in 2022. 

The former Man United defender had lead the club to the Championship title back in 2007, but resigned from his position after the club had fallen to 18th in the Premier League following a dismal run of form the following year. 

Despite that, Sunderland had been on the hunt for a new manager after the club had parted ways with Lee Johnson.  

In December 2022, Mail Sport reported that the Sky Sports pundit had turned down the chance for a second spell at the football club, with contractual issues being the reason why he wouldn’t be making a return.

The side ultimately choose Alex Neil as the man to take them forward, with the Scot guiding Sunderland to promotion to the Championship in 2022. 

Sunderland’s owners have now shed more light on why Keane wasn’t hired. In the latest series of Netflix‘s ‘Sunderland Til’ I Die’ documentary, both Kyril Louis-Dreyfus and Juan Sartori spoke out on why the 52-year-old never came back to his former club, despite admitting it would have been ‘fun’ to see him return.

Sunderland's owners have opened up on Roy Keane's failed return to the club in 2022

Sunderland’s owners have opened up on Roy Keane’s failed return to the club in 2022

The Black Cats were keen to turn to the fiery Irishman in a bid to reignite their promotion bid

Sunderland were hoping to wrap up Keane’s appointment after a poor run of League One form

Keane had been heavily linked with a return to the club after leading them to the Championship title in 2007

Keane had been heavily linked with a return to the club after leading them to the Championship title in 2007

‘The Roy Keane potential with Sunderland played out much more in the media than it really did in conversations that we had in the club,’ Louis-Dreyfus said during the documentary. 

‘The second we did make the change, I knew there was going to be criticism in the moment, but the only thing I try to do is to make the decisions that I feel are the right ones for the football club.’

Co-owner Juan Sartori added: ‘I think Roy Keane would have been fun, definitely good for the Netflix series, but maybe we had a third season of disastrous finishing.’

Reports at the time had also suggested that Keane had been interviewed by the club over the vacant manager’s position and was one of the preferred choices to take charge

Ultimately, the move, which would have been popular among the club’s fanbase, never materialised.

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus stated during 'Sunderland Til' I Die' that the club had opted against bringing Keane back for a second spell

Kyril Louis-Dreyfus stated during ‘Sunderland Til’ I Die’ that the club had opted against bringing Keane back for a second spell 

It came after they had sacked Lee Johnson over their poor results with the club in search of a new manager to lead them to promotion

It came after they had sacked Lee Johnson over their poor results with the club in search of a new manager to lead them to promotion

Since then, the Man United legend also spoke out on why the move fell through, claiming that it wasn’t the right position for him at the time.  

‘I’ve said it before. The deal has to be right for everyone,’ he said at The Overlap Live in Manchester, back in 2022. 

‘It didn’t fall into place last week. It wasn’t meant to be. ‘Everything has to be right. The right challenge. The right contract. You have to fancy it.

‘I’ve not had that opportunity the last few years. There has not been a club where I think, “I’m the right fit for that club”.’

The third season of ‘Sunderland Til’ I Die’ was released on Netflix this week and gives fans an insight into the club’s journey to the League One play-offs during the 2021-22 season.


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