Roy Keane: Man Utd rants and Micah Richards bromance will be missed if pundit returns to Sunderland

Roy Keane could be set for a sensational return to management after holding an interview with ex-club Sunderland on Friday - a move which would bring a temporary end to his iconic stint as a pundit.

Sportsmail understands the former Manchester United captain, who has not managed since being sacked by Ipswich in 2011, is in talks over a potential return to Sunderland, whom he led to the Championship title back in 2007.

The League One outfit are seeking a leader who 'sets standards' after parting company with Lee Johnson, and Keane is a man who certainly fits that criteria. During his time out of the game he has become a popular member of Sky Sports and ITV's punditry teams, pulling no punches with some typically-brutal verdicts and forming an unlikely bromance with Micah Richards.

Ahead of his potential Sunderland return, we've taken a look at a few reasons why Keane the pundit will be sorely missed.

United rants

As a player, Keane was a notoriously cold character renowned for taking no nonsense from team-mates, opponents and coaches both on the field and off it. And when he ventured into punditry, it quickly became apparent that he was bringing a similar approach to the TV studio.

His most memorable moments on the box have come when United are in dire straits, taking aim at any player perceived by him to be underperforming or downing tools while representing his former club.

He directed a box-office rant towards David de Gea during their 1-1 draw with Tottenham in June 2020, leaving old team-mate and co-pundit Patrice Evra in stitches by insisting he would have thrown punches at the goalkeeper for letting in the opening goal.

The Irishman said: 'I'm fuming watching this. I can't believe Manchester United, I can't believe Luke Shaw heading the ball and running forward. I am staggered at [Harry] Maguire, staggered that an international player can just get done by this.

'I am sick to death of this goalkeeper. I'd be fighting him at half-time… I would be swinging punches at that guy. It's a standard save for an established international goalkeeper. I am flabbergasted.

'Maguire and De Gea – I wouldn't even let them on the bus after the match. Get a taxi back to Manchester.'

While Evra simply couldn't contain his laughter, Keane has sometimes found himself at loggerheads with his fellow pundits when debating United's woes.

In a hilarious exchange after their 2-0 defeat at home to Man City in 2019, the ex-United captain became embroiled in a dispute with Gary Neville when his former team-mate defended the players' effort by suggesting they were suffering from fatigue.

'Gary, Gary, it's two yards man,' Keane interjected. 'I guarantee if we'd done the same, would we be telling you off if you didn't close somebody down? Of course we would.'

Keane was then seen rolling his eyes as Neville argued that Shaw's 'legs had gone' in the game.

He responded: 'His legs have gone? It's two yards! Get out to him like your life depends on it.'

Micah bromance

Keane burst onto the punditry scene in full rage-mode with no-holds-barred, taking no prisoners when analysing matches and providing some golden soundbites in the process.

Then along came Micah Richards.

Incredibly, the former Manchester City right-back has succeeded where so many have failed over the years; with his infectious laugh and bubbly personality managing to bring out a softer side to Keane.

The pair have formed an unlikely, much-loved double act during their time together as pundits, which began when Richards stood up to Keane in the Sky Sports studio back in 2020.

After Richards described himself as 'bursting onto the scene' in his own career, Keane joked: 'Did you burst onto the scene? Very few defender burst onto the scene.'

Richards then hit back: 'Hold on, I played for England at 18, the youngest ever defender to play for England! I would say that's bursting onto the scene.'

Perhaps after gaining his respect, from that point onwards Richards has enjoyed a hilarious bromance with Keane, whose harsh persona contrasts brilliantly with the ex-City star's playfulness. He has even managed to get a smile out of him on occasion.

However, the high point of Keane and Richards' on-screen partnership came when the duo watched Aston Villa players wildly celebrating their Premier League survival at the end of the 2019-20 campaign.

As Sky Sports played footage of Villa's dressing-room party, an unimpressed Keane looked on in disgust before saying: 'Imagine if they ever win anything...'

After descending into laughter Richards said: 'They just stayed in the Premier League!'

To which Keane replied: 'They've stayed up, it's a big achievement. Celebrations, slightly over the top, but good luck to them.'

Last year Keane and Richards were even granted their own show by SkyBet after emerging as one of the nations' favourite double acts, taking to the road together to film a special preview series ahead of Euro 2020.

Best of the rest

Arguably Keane's funniest rant again involved United in October of last year, when he produced a side-splitting impression of club captain Maguire which quickly went viral on social media.

Following a resounding 5-0 defeat at home to bitter rivals Liverpool, Maguire issued an apology to United fans for their abysmal performance on the day - but Keane was having none of it.

'What Man United have always had over the years, never mind talented players, they had players with character and personalities. I don't see it in this group,' he said.

'I heard Maguire talking during the week, he was like a robot.

'He was like [English accent]: "Oh, er, apologies to the fans." There's no emotion behind it.'

The impression of Maguire's monotone voice, which took fans completely by surprise, instantly went down as one of Keane the pundit's top-tier moments.

Nevertheless, he has not only ripped into the Red Devils on Sky Sports, with the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham also irking him over the years.

It was only a month ago that the Gunners felt the wrath of Keane, who branded them 'rubbish' during their FA Cup third round defeat against Nottingham Forest.

'It's been rubbish. They look like Real Madrid but they're playing like a pub team,' he said at half-time.

'There's still a softness. We were watching live here thinking: 'Arsenal are here for the taking'.

'They didn't show any presence about them. Arsenal deserved everything they got.'

But Arsenal are not the only north London team to have been targeted by Keane, as arch-rivals Spurs also found themselves on the receiving end of one of his onslaughts in February 2021.

Unlike the Gunners, though, they had former player Jamie Redknapp backing their corner during an explosive row with Keane live on Sky Sports.

When Redknapp insisted Spurs boss Jose Mourinho should have been getting the best out of his players because they were internationals, Keane interrupted: 'Playing for your country doesn't make you a top player. If you can trap the ball you can play for your country these days.'

Redknapp then responded: 'I don't think you can turn around and say this isn't a strong squad, it's full of internationals. There's internationals in every department.'

Keane replied: 'But being full of internationals doesn't make you a good team.'

His comments then triggered a furious response from Redknapp, who exclaimed: 'They play for good countries though Roy! What are you saying these aren't good players then?

'You're saying [Toby] Alderweireld who plays for Belgium is not a good player?'

Keane later added: 'Spurs are good on their day yeah, like a lot of teams, and Jamie makes the point there about they've got a lot of internationals, if you can trap the ball you're gonna play for your country.

'Everybody plays for their country! If you don't play for your country now you are a bad player.'

While it may not be forever, Keane's absence on our screens will be felt if he heads back to the Stadium of Light.