Robbie Keane in frame for Preston job as Leeds link emerges to help win contract

Former Leeds United striker Robbie Keane is in line to takeover at Preston North End.

The Lancashire side are in need of another manager after parting ways with Paul Heckingbottom at Deepdale.

The search for a new manager is underway with Keane emerging as a candidate.

The 46-year-old had an illustrious career, which included a season and a half at Elland Road across the 2000-01 and 2001-02 campaigns.

Since retiring, he has entered the management side of the game.

And there is a Leeds connection from that time that could help him seal the job at Preston.

Why Robbie Keane’s Leeds history could prove crucial in Preston talks

Keane has spent a number of years as a football manager, and has already seen plenty of success, but has yet to enter the English game.

The Irishman was manager of Israeli side Maccabi Tel Aviv during the 2023-24 season, with Keane winning the league at the first go of asking.

He would step down after that campaign, joining Ferencvaros in January 2025, going on to win the league that same season, and the Hungarian Cup the following.

Now, as per Alan Nixon, Keane could be set for his first crack at English football, with the journalist stating he is "a live contender" for the Preston job.

Currently, Peter Risdale is the director at the Lancashire side, and the 74-year-old has a previous connection with Keane.

Risdale was the chairman of Leeds United when Keane was playing for the Whites.

That previous relationship is said to be "another tick in the box" to appointing the former striker.

Risdale will have to convince Keane that Preston can match his ambitions with it being stated that is perhaps the hardest part in trying to land the Irish manager.

Why Keane’s Leeds experience could now matter at Preston

Keane has been at Leeds before in a coaching role.

In May 2023, Keane joined up with Sam Allardyce's coaching staff as the relegation-specialist hoped to save the Whites from the drop.

Unfortunately, he was unable to do so, with the Englishman and Keane both departing in the aftermath.

However, with Preston in the relegation zone, that experience working with Allardyce could have handed him plenty of lessons.

It does remain to be seen how the Irishman would view the job at Preston given his previous concerns at managing a team battling survival.

He stated in an interview with talkSPORT: "If I go to a Championship team now, a low Championship team, and then we're surviving, I have to go there and change the way I want to play, because basically we're trying to survive.

"It's costing the club millions if you get relegated.

“I want to go somewhere at this moment in time where I can actually put my proper identity on a team, and play a certain way that I want to play."

But with plenty of time left in the season, Preston could still turn the ship around and climb their way up the table.

Possibly leaving the relegation battle behind them.