And he hopes to use his now-empty international calendar to complete a Football Association (FA) coaching course.

The Manchester United midfielder claimed he was keen to try his hand at coaching once he retires from football.

And now Keane has admitted that quitting international football over his World Cup fall-out with Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy will leave him with the spare time to follow a coaching course.

Keane said in his forthcoming autobiography, serialised in the News of the World: "I've spoken to the manager already about getting my (coaching) badges.

"I'm nearly 31, I've got another four years left in me and then management is something I'll seriously consider.

"There are people I have learned from in my career and others I would rather ignore.

"But without international football I'm going to have a few weekends free during the season and I'd like to put them to good use."

And he said of current standards of management: "The game is full of bluffers banging on about rolling your sleeves up, having the right attitude and taking some pride in the shirt you are wearing.

"A manager who trades in these cliched generalisations - and there are many of them - is missing the point."