• Premier League

Villa appoint Keane as assistant manager

ESPN staff
July 1, 2014
Keane will continue in his role as Martin O'Neill's assistant with the Republic of Ireland © Getty Images
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Aston Villa have appointed former Manchester United and Republic of Ireland captain Roy Keane to work alongside Paul Lambert as the club's new assistant manager.

Keane's move to Villa is understood to have been agreed last month but the official announcement was delayed until all parties returned from their summer break, with the players and management at the Premier League club set to start pre-season training on July 7.

Keane was in talks with Villa at the same time as he was approached by Celtic last month, with his decision to work alongside Lambert rather than return to a lead coaching role with the Scottish club believed to have been swung by his ability to remain part of the Republic of Ireland coaching set-up with Martin O'Neill.

Football Association of Ireland chiefs have given the green light for Keane to continue in his assistant's role as they prepare for Euro 2016 qualifiers in September.

Keane's arrival at Villa is a big boost to boss Lambert after his former assistant Ian Culverhouse was dismissed by the club following an internal disciplinary enquiry.

Keane's coaching career has been both successful and turbulent, with his triumph in guiding Sunderland to Premier League promotion in 2007 backed up by a disappointing stint in charge at Ipswich.

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