Keane completed his UEFA Pro-Licence course at Warwick University earlier this week and is now looking forward to the new season.

He told the Daily Telegraph: "Life's about pitting your wits against the likes of Sir Alex."

As well as facing his former boss at Manchester United, Keane will also go head to head in the dugout with former Manchester United team-mates Mark Hughes (Manchester City), Steve Bruce (Wigan) and Paul Ince, who was recently appointed manager of Blackburn Rovers after Hughes swapped Ewood Park for the City of Manchester Stadium.

Ince joins Rovers after winning the League Two title and Johnstone's Paint Trophy with MK Dons last season.

Keane continued: "I'll be coming up against Incey, Sparky, Brucey, obviously Sir Alex. And, hopefully, the likes of Giggsy (Ryan Giggs), Gary (Neville) and Ole (Gunnar Solksjaer) when they get their qualifications, and Henning (Berg) if he came to work over here in the future."

Neville, Giggs, Butt and Solksjaer have all been on courses for their A-Licence, which is necessary before doing the UEFA Pro-Licence course.

Keane added: "It's great that these lads, who have all had great careers, want to do this. These lads certainly don't need the money, they probably don't need the hassles, but they obviously want to put something back into the game. They have the hunger. These lads could be putting their feet up on a beach but that's not what life's all about - it's about testing yourself against the likes of Sir Alex."