Robbie Keane lined up for shock first management job in English football with return to club he was with six years ago

ROBBIE KEANE has emerged as an early contender for the vacant manager’s job at Middlesbrough.

The Championship side brutally sacked ex-Manchester United midfielder Michael Carrick on Wednesday.

GettyRobbie Keane is a contender to replace Michael Carrick as Middlesbrough manager[/caption] Michael Carrick was sacked by Boro this week

Keane knows Boro well after spending two years as assistant manager to Jonathan Woodgate between 2018 and 2020.

Despite his role as a No 2 after hanging up his playing boots, Keane has never managed in England.

Keane, 44, impressed owner Steve Gibson during his short stint at the Riverside Stadium six years ago.

The Republic of Ireland and Tottenham legend is coming off a title-winning season with Hungarian side Ferencvaros.

The season before he also lifted a title, taking the Israeli Premier League with Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he won the double.

That was Keane’s second job as a head coach, having started out at Indian side ATK upon his retirement in 2018.

From there, he went on to learn his trade as an assistant with Ireland, Leeds, and crucially Boro.

Former Championship-winning Nottingham Forest gaffer Steve Cooper, out of work since he was sacked after 12 games at Leicester, is also on the shortlist to replace Carrick.

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Carrick and his assistants Woodgate and Graeme Carrick – his younger brother – have also departed the club.

The 43-year-old, who was the division’s longest-serving manager, led Boro from the 21st in the table in October 2022 to the play-offs.

That was followed by an eighth-placed finish and a run to the League Cup semi-finals but, despite a positive first half of this season, they eventually ended a disappointing 10th.

Keane was a Premier League great with Spurs, scoring 126 goals in 349 appearances, also playing for Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Leeds and Coventry.

Rob Edwards and Jon Dahl Tomasson and Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl, who has a hefty release clause, are also options.

Middlesbrough have spent 15 of the last 16 seasons in the Championship.

Steve Cooper has been linked with a shock return to management with Boro