In a recent blog post, Roker Report suggested that someone like Roy Keane is exactly who Sunderland Football Club need at the helm right now. The implication was not to bring him on full-time but to give him a short stint in charge to change the culture at the club from a losing one to a winning one (Roker Report).
It is an interesting concept to have a manager come in for a short period of time to make some much-needed attitude adjustments. Keane is well known for his brash comments and no-nonsense approach to confrontation. But just how much of an impact could the Irishman have?
TIF Tactics – How has Keanes’ stints as manager gone in the past?
Sunderland fans will remember having Keane at the helm between 2006 and 2008 when the 48-year-old managed the club. He earned a 42% win percentage during his time at the Stadium of Light during his tenure. At Ipswich, between 2009 and 2011, Keane’s win percentage was even lower, only managing to come out on top 34.57% of the time (managerstats.co.uk).
But, as stated above, the ex-midfielder would not be expected to come in and manage for a whole two-year spell. Instead, Keane would be brought in to remould the dressing room into that of a winning team. Perhaps it’s more relevant to look at the managers first couple of months in charge during his time?
In his first month in charge of Sunderland, the manager earned three wins, a tie and a loss. This equals a 60% win percentage. If we extend that to two months in charge, he only managed two more wins with three additional losses. This takes his win percentage down to 50%. Extend that to three months and his record drops to a 46.66% (worldfootball.net).
At Ipswich, Keane was hired at the end of the 2008/2009 season. He won his only two games in charge as the season was coming to a quick close (worldfootball.net). But at the beginning of the 2009/2010 season, after a long summer in charge, Keane went his first 15 league games without a win (worldfootball.net).
These statistics suggest that hiring on someone like Roy Keane would, in fact, bring short term success. However, his win percentages as a manager indicate that clubs would be wise to limit his time in charge. Perhaps Roker Report are onto something though regarding his speciality role as a temporary dressing room consultant?