Roy Keane the Ultimate Replacement for Alex Ferguson?

For the third time in my life today I picked up Roy Keane's autobiography and read it through once more. If you haven't done this already I suggest you do, no matter if you're a Liverpool or Leeds fan, it's a worthy read.

Filled with honesty and passion that was so much part of Keane's career whether it transformed into good or bad on the pitch.

It was during the read when I got thinking, wouldn't Roy Keane be a perfect candidate to replace Ferguson when the Scot finally decides to leave his post.

I thought, what qualities does Ferguson have that makes him such a success? Sir Alex is passionate, relentless, headstrong, ruthless and a craving to be the best that is everlasting. It's well known that Fergie knows the club from top to bottom, from the money men to the laundry women, the "prawn sandwich brigade" to the hardcore.

Fergie is Manchester United. He has carried on the traditions of Matt Busby. The traditions of slick and stylish attacking football to graduating youth into the famous red shirt.

I wondered, how can we ever see the likes of him again at Manchester United? He would be hard to replace. Hard to find someone that is as immersed in the traditions and passion of the Red Devils. Hard to find someone who can be a father figure to youngsters and executioner to those whose time is up. Hard to find another man filled with such humour, rage, love and commitment.

If you look at the names that have been swirling throughout the media as to who will replace Sir Alex when he retires in the next three years, not many fit the mould in quite the same way.

Mark Hughes? Maybe. Looks bound for Manchester City instead of United.

Martin O Neill? Great manager but in the process of building a great side who look set for great things.

Sven Goran Erikkson? Definitely has talent but is a boring plank who lacks personality and the fire in his belly to be a "great."

That's why when I look at Keane I just know it would work. He can match all the qualities of Ferguson and then some. He can become a "great." He knows United from the inside out, been there through the good and the bad. No one in the world could match his drive and the fire that made Keane the player he was. I don't think anyone could match it as a manager either.

In three years time, when Ferguson decides to step down as he has stated, I believe Keane will take it. I believe he is being groomed to take over at United.

When he took over from Sunderland, it's as if the players were filled with belief, that Keane's hunger for perfection was somehow transferred to them and sure enough, they gained promotion. Welcome to the big league.

Then came the huge war chest that was given to Keane to help the Black Cat's survive the onslaught that is the Premier League. And well, that's where Keane stumbled. The majority of his signings were awful. It was obvious that he had very little knowledge of the transfer market.

However they survived. Just.

Still when you take into account that it was still Keane's first season in the Premier League, it's quite an achievement. I'm sure he won't make the same mistakes again.

I think that in three years time, Keane will be the No.1 candidate to take the helm at United. The fans would welcome him. He was our leader on the pitch for years, why not off it?

I believe that Keane would carry on the same traditions that have made United so successful. He already has the qualities that Ferguson has. He can see right through a player, I remember an interview with the Cork man where he said (as manager of Sunderland at the time) that he doesn't care what a player does all week, as long as he gives 100% on match day.

He can understand a lack of ability, but not the commitment. And he stated that any player not willing to give 100%, regardless of ability would be basically removed from the club.

If you are not proud to wear the shirt, then you won't. This was obvious after the Liam Miller incident where after turning up for training late a number of times, Miller was placed on the transfer list.

Ruthless? Yes, but totally understandable. Take out the weeds. Take out those who are not worthy.

That's why I believe Roy Keane is the perfect replacement. Once he gains some experience and learns more about the managerial world, then not many will be more suitable.

It would seem like fate if he was to take the helm, returning to once again lead us to glory just when days seems to darken and we reminisce of the days gone by with Fergie.

"If I was putting Roy Keane out there to represent Manchester United on a one against one, we'd win the Derby, the National, the boat race and anything else. It's an incredible thing he's got." - Sir Alex Ferguson.

Ferguson knows how Keane works and Keane knows how Manchester United works. I hope it happens. I hope when he is appointed that we give our legendary midfielder the time he needs to take us to more success, the time that is so precious and rare in the managerial world these days.

I hope the ending to the book will someday be repeated by Keano, "Now I'm back with Manchester United. We have a lot to prove and I'm relishing the challenge and I'm hungrier than I've ever been."