Roy Keane says Ruben Amorim is in for the ‘biggest challenge of his career’

Roy Keane has insisted that Ruben Amorim will find managing Manchester United very different to anything he has ever experienced.

Amorim, 39, previously managed Casa Pia, Braga and, most recently, Sporting Lisbon, where he was in charge of 231 matches and won five trophies.

Ahead of his first game as United boss, away at Ipswich Town on Sunday, Amorim claimed he would like to go out for dinner with legendary ex-United manager Sir Alex Ferguson and former captain Roy Keane to get a feel for the club to get.

That comment came during a Sky Sports interview with Gary Neville, who asked Amorim: “Do you want me to pass on the invitation for Roy to have dinner with him?”

Amorim replied: 'Roy Keane? Yes, he was a player I really liked. I know he's a bit crazy, but he was a huge player and I like players with character.'

And Keane gave his reaction from the Sky Sports studio on Portman Road after watching Neville's interview with Amorim.

Keane said: 'If he wants to take me out for dinner and pay for it then listen, all well and good.

'As a former player, we sit here and want to give United the credit. We want to see United compete at the top, but they have to earn that right.

'It is clear that if former United players are not producing or players are not giving everything, we have to say so.

'But I would be very happy if he can keep United competing at the top. It would be fantastic. But if the team doesn't participate and, like I said, doesn't show up every week, that's what gets to me.”

Keane added: “It's a big job for him. He has mentioned previous jobs… Sports. I know he has done a brilliant job at Sporting, but Sporting's challenge for Man United is a piece of cake for me.

'Yes, it will be the same principles, but trying to get Man United to compete with Man City and Liverpool will undoubtedly be the biggest challenge he faces in his career.'

United have not been champions of England since Ferguson's last season at the club in 2012-13.

Since then, there have been six permanent managers at Old Trafford, including Amorim, who has signed a contract until June 2027.

United finished eighth in the Premier League last season under Erik ten Hag, who left Old Trafford after winning 54.69 percent of his 128 games in the United dugout.

“It's been a positive week for him,” Keane said of Amorim's build-up to Sunday's trip to Ipswich. 'But the key is that he wins football games.

'He came to United. Gary mentioned the other managers in terms of their stats… About a 50 percent win rate.

'But that won't be enough to stay in this job, because of what has happened in recent years with what Pep is doing at Man City and what Liverpool are doing now.'

United have finished in the top four five times in the post-Ferguson era. But they have also finished more than 30 points behind the champions four times in the same period.