Keane played under Clough for three years at Nottingham Forest

Clough signed Keane for Nottingham Forest from Cobh Ramblers for �10,000 in 1990 and sold him to Manchester United for �3.75m three years later.

Keane said: "Brian's ideas were simple but there was a genius behind it.

"With the amount of time I spent at United, Alex Ferguson was my biggest inspiration. But without Brian Clough I wouldn't have got to Alex Ferguson."

The former Republic of Ireland international added: "Brian had his ways of getting the right players to play in the right way - people like John Robertson, and the way he put me straight into the first team.

Before my first game for Forest, Brian said to me 'you get it, you pass to a red shirt, and you move'.

I understand it's a difficult job, but everybody feels Roy will be a success as a manager Blackburn manager Mark Hughes

"That was his advice to me and I made a career out of it."

Keane's former OId Trafford team-mates Mark Hughes and Paul Parker are certain the 35-year-old will do well at the Stadium of Light.

Blackburn manager Hughes told BBC Radio Five Live's Sportsweek programme: "Certainly Roy will go into the job with his eyes open.

"I understand it's a difficult job, but everybody feels he will be a success as a manager."

There have been questions asked about Keane's ability to motivate and relate to players who do not have the same ability he possessed.

But Hughes does not feel that will be a problem, saying: "It is all about working with what you have got.

"If a guy is working for you and he is doing his best, then you hope he can do the job you give him.

"If not, you try to work with him, develop him and make him the best he can be.

"If you can gain the utmost from every player you are working with, more often than not you will get some degree of success."

And Parker feels Keane has learned a lot during his long career in the game.

Everybody who knows Roy Keane and is seeing him now knows Roy has made a big change in his life Paul Parker

The former England full-back said: "After knowing what he was like when he first came to United and getting to know him, I just think he has changed that much.

"He has had a lot of hiccups along the way, but he seems to have mellowed out and he seems to have listened, and he has learnt a lot as well.

"He did not want to go into this job so early, but he took it because it became available. It's a big club and he is prepared.

"Everybody who knows Roy Keane and is seeing him now knows Roy has made a big change in his life.