Roy Keane’s potential return to Manchester United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s assistant is reported to have been close earlier this year, but it did not happen. Multiple outlets say United’s plans depended on who was appointed as the interim manager in January.
According to the reports, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had earmarked Keane to be his No.2. However, Manchester United appointed Michael Carrick instead, and Carrick ultimately took the role that prevented Keane’s comeback in the assistant position.
One outlet adds a broader context by referencing INEOS’s decisions after the sacking of Ruben Amorim in early 2026, describing a “close” and more dramatic scenario for how events could have unfolded. Overall, the coverage agrees on the key point: the choice of interim manager determined whether Keane returned in Solskjaer’s backroom team.
