Robbie eyes up a job with Ireland – but not just yet

ROBBIE KEANE says he sees himself in international management, ideally in the role occupied by Republic of Ireland assistant boss Roy Keane.

At 34, and no longer a guaranteed starter in Martin O’Neill’s senior side, Ireland’s record scorer is eyeing next year’s Euro 2016 finals in France as his swansong.

After that, while his club career may be prolonged stateside with Los Angeles Galaxy, Keane intends to move onto the coaching circuit, with his controversial namesake the figurehead he wants to emulate.

‘Maybe one day, yeah,’ responded the Dubliner, when asked about the possibility of managing his country some time in the future.

‘But you don’t walk into jobs. You have to establish yourself first.

‘Maybe I’d go in with a manager as an assistant, similar to what Roy is doing with Martin.

‘When you are an assistant manager, you have to be in- between the players and the manager.

‘You have to have the relationship where you can sometimes go to those players who don’t feel comfortable approaching the manager.

‘The assistant manager has to be, as a player, one you can go and speak to.

‘Some players are fairly comfortable going to the manager but some are not.

‘I can identify myself with the younger players,’ concluded Keane, currently midway through obtaining his UEFA ‘A’ coaching licence.