With Roy Keane now the evens favourite to succeed Shaun Maloney at Hibernian, Republic of Ireland international Daryl Horgan is backing him all the way.
The 29-year-old spent two seasons at the Leith club and represented Ireland during the Martin O'Neill and Roy Keane era.
Keane hasn't been involved in standalone management since 2011, when he was dismissed at Ipswich Town. He spoke about a return to management last week.
In a YouTube video alongside Jamie Carragher, Keane said, "I almost feel, I think, those days are over me," regarding a managerial comeback.
"It’s maybe more of a head job that is the role for me and over the next few years I can’t see a club giving me a real good opportunity to get back into it."
Nonetheless, Hibernian Chief Executive Ben Kensell and Head of Recruitment Ian Gordon have travelled to England to meet candidates, as per the BBC.
Hibernian are to hold further talks with Roy Keane over their managerial vacancy but he faces stiff competition.
That's the latest gossip 📰⤵️#BBCFootball— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) April 27, 2022
Horgan On The Case For Keane
Speaking on Keane's potential appointment, Daryl Horgan spoke to The Mirror about his strengths as a manager and why it makes sense.
"Roy is first and foremost a winner and he'll already have a good idea of what's required at Hibs and that includes the realistic potential for success," he said.
"Whoever the manager is, the priority is to finish as high up the Premiership table as possible, in the case of Hibs, if that position is third then that would be deemed a good season.
"A European run and a cup final appearance would be regarded as brilliant but at some point someone will have to break through that glass ceiling and why shouldn't it be him?
"Someone has to be able to break through that Celtic and Rangers barrier which dominates Scottish football and I certainly wouldn't bet against it being Roy Keane."
Horgan is plying his trade with Wycombe Wanderers in League One since his departure from Scotland. He understands the gap between the Glasgow clubs and the rest of the SPL.
Celtic and Rangers runs in Europe won't help matters and Horgan is aware of that. "That doesn't make bridging the gap for the rest any easier," he said.
Daryl Horgan of Hibernian. (Apps 81, Goals 10). Pictured scoring v Hearts at Tynecastle in 2019. pic.twitter.com/aoHc3CIzPJ
— PictureThis Scotland (@74frankfurt) June 1, 2021
Working Under Keane
Horgan made his Republic of Ireland debut in a friendly against Iceland at the Aviva Stadium in March, 2017. That same year, Ireland lost to Denmark in the World Cup qualifiers.
He believes there was a lot of change when he was first introduced to the squad, with older players retiring and newer talent being brought in.
"A lot of the senior lads who had done so well for both Roy and the manager Martin O'Neill previously were either retiring or dropping out of international football."
"We qualified for the European Championships and managed to reach the last 16 and Roy was a huge part of that."
5 September 2017; Republic of Ireland assistant manager Roy Keane, second from left, with players, from left to right, James McClean, Stephen Ward and Daryl Horgan prior to the FIFA World Cup Qualifier Group D match between Republic of Ireland and Serbia at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin. Photo by Matt Browne/Sportsfile
However, with the high profile nature of a Roy Keane appointment, there's going to be some emotional baggage to endure and Horgan is aware of that.
Not only was Keane a top player for a global club in Manchester United, but he's remained in the spotlight through his punditry for Sky Sports.
"It would be a box office appointment," Horgan admitted. "The Hibs boys would love to have Roy in charge as he's an inspirational figure."
"(With Ireland) there were nerves and excitement and that's what the Hibs boys can look forward to if he does become their manager as he was brilliant with me."
"He brings an instant credibility and stature to whatever job he's in and it's difficult to see him not making an impact."
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