Manchester United Legend to Manage in Turkey - Report

The Sun has reported that former Manchester United midfielder Roy Keane is to be announced as the manager of newly promoted Turkish Super League club Kasimpasa SK. The 91-year-old club is located in the capital city of Istanbul and this season is only their fourth in the top flight of Turkish football. Kasimpasa have enjoyed a fantastic start to the season. The club are presently second in the league, with 12 points from the first six games, one point behind league leaders Galatasaray.

Given the excellent performance of manager Metin Diyadin so far, Keane's appointment, which is yet to be confirmed, will be a surprise.

The 41-year-old Irishman was a controversial but hugely influential figure in the centre of the midfield for Sir Alex Ferguson and for his national team, with an extremely tough, no-holds-barred approach. Keane retired in 2006, after making 480 appearances for the Red Devils in a 12-year career at Old Trafford.

After his retirement (he played briefly for Celtic after leaving United), Keane took up a managerial role at Sunderland and initially excelled, guiding the Black Cats to a return to the Premier League for the 2006/07 season. Unfortunately the year would prove to be disastrous for Keane, who resigned after five defeats in six games left the club in 18th place.

"Roy's decision sums up his desire to always do what is best for the club, despite the club's efforts to keep him," club chairman Niall Quinn said at the time. "Roy deserves huge respect for his contribution and the manner in which he guided the club from the depths of the Championship back to the Premier League. His winning mentality and singled-mindedness were just what this club needed. Even in his departure he has been more concerned for the welfare of the players and his staff than himself."

Keane then managed Ipswich Town from 2009 to 2011 and was sacked after the club lost seven of nine games towards the end of the season, leaving the club in 19th place in the Championship. The Tractor Boys recovered to finish 13th.