Roy Keane reveals why he turned down Sunderland role

'It wasn't meant to be'

Roy Keane has spoken for the first time since his decision to turn down the manager's role at Sunderland, insisting that "it wasn't meant to be." Keane was heavily linked with a return to the League One club after they sacked Lee Johnson but despite emerging as the frontrunner for the job, turned down the offer which instead went to Alex Neil. The Irishman will continue in his current role as a pundit working for Sky Sports and ITV and during an appearance on The Overlap: Live, the 50-year-old revealed the reason behind his decision to turn down the job at the Stadium of Light.

"As usual, it comes down to money," Keane initially joked, as per the Daily Mail.

"Ive said it before. The deal has to be right for everyone. 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.'" Despite talks breaking down between him and Sunderland, Keane insisted that he would still be open to the idea of management and wouldn't rule out taking a job abroad, however he isn't concerned if he fails to find anything else. "If I don't get another chance, it's no big deal," he said.

"You need a bit of luck. The right club has to give you the call. That hasn't happened. It's no big deal."

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