Welsh FA chief ‘wanted to appoint Roy Keane as manager last summer’… as pressure grows on Rob Page amid a faltering Euro qualifying campaign

• Wales have endured a difficult run of form under national team boss Rob Page 
• Keane was reportedly targeted to replace Page by Welsh FA chief Noel Mooney
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’

Welsh Football Association chief executive Noel Mooney was reportedly keen to appoint Roy Keane as national team manager last summer, amid mounting pressure on Rob Page.

Wales have endured a difficult Euro 2024 qualifying campaign to date, with Page’s side recording two wins, one draw and a pair of defeats so far.

Both victories came against group strugglers Latvia, while a damaging 4-2 home defeat against Armenia left Wales playing catch-up on rivals Turkey and Croatia.

Wales are fourth in the standings ahead of facing second placed Croatia on Sunday, where they will begin the match three points adrift of the visitors.

Mooney, who previously worked for the Irish FA, had reportedly been keen on replacing Page with Keane in June, according to The Sun.

Welsh FA chief executive Noel Mooney was reportedly keen to appoint Roy Keane in June

Mooney was reportedly persuaded against replacing Wales boss Rob Page by colleagues

Page is under pressure with Wales facing an uphill battle to qualify for next summer’s Euros

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The Welsh FA chief executive had reportedly put forward his countryman’s case following the loss to Armenia.

Mooney is claimed to have wanted a bigger name in charge of Wales, but was persuaded to keep faith with Page by other senior members of the governing body.

The official publicly backed Page in July, insisting he would remain as the national team boss.

Page only signed a four-year deal only a year ago, with his contract running until 2026.

Pressure has increased due to a poor run of form, including Wales performing dreadfully at last winter’s World Cup in Qatar.

Keane has previous experience of coaching at international level, after serving as Martin O’Neill’s assistant for the Republic of Ireland from 2013 to 2018.

The former Man United captain previously managed Sunderland and Ipswich, but has been without a coaching role since a short spell as O’Neill’s assistant at Nottingham Forest in 2019.    

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