Roy Keane has revealed that he takes many lessons from his time under Sir Alex Ferguson and Brian Clough, but the former Ireland international admits he had to reset his mindset with Manchester United holding expectations that are almost impossible for other clubs to meet.

Keane, who played at United for 12 years and made over 300 appearances for the club, was one of many players including the likes of Mark Hughes, Steve Bruce, Alex McLeish and even son Darren, who have gone on to manage after playing under Ferguson.

And Keane, who also worked under legendary manager Brian Clough, believes that while no one can emulate the skills of the United man, he does teach a winning mentality that overrules all else.

"I think when you are playing under a manager like that and winning lots of games, part of your mindset is that it is going to be easy [working in management]," he said.

"Your mindset is about winning matches, so I think going to any job after United is that you have to expect to lose football matches.

"So I had to change my mindset quite a bit, even when we got promoted with Sunderland. I think we lost about 11 games, maybe 4 or 5 before I took over, so then of course when you get promoted you're going to lose 20 odd games during the course of a league campaign. So it is changing the mindset."

Keane said that during his time as manager of Sunderland and Ipswich Town, he was trying to take as many lessons as possible from Ferguson and Clough, but the 40 year old also wanted to establish himself separately from the two legends.

"You would hope there is some sort of influence there," he explained.

"They are two of the greatest managers ever so I have been very fortunate but you have got to be careful. You can try and pick bits and pieces of these managers but you have got to be your own man.

"You can't copy any manager particularly Brian Clough or Alex Ferguson. I mean it is an impossible job, but I am grateful I have played under them and hopefully I have learnt plenty from them.

"But having said that, you have to go out and be your own man and make your own decisions and make your own mistakes. "

Keane is now a pundit for ITV, but the former United star still longs to get back into management. And he admitted that if the right opportunity came along, he would jump at the opportunity to get back into the dugout.

"I don't know until I get the call," he said. "I have to say, I think I am keeping myself busy, but I don't sit around all day with my feet up, it is not in my make-up.

"Football is very much in my blood and I have to say the idea of football management, being on the sideline for all the suffering that goes with it, is something that I enjoy. But I really do not know until that call comes."

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