Roy Keane has left Nottingham Forest after five months as their assistant manager.
Keane quit Manchester United and the Republic of Ireland's 2002 World Cup squad under a cloud during his playing career - but that was not the case at Forest, as he made his exit on Sunday in amicable fashion.
Keane will now look to return to management, eight years after his last spell in charge of a club.
On leaving Forest, Keane thanked manager Martin O'Neill for his support as he begins his search for a new challenge.
Keane said: "Working with Martin over the last few years has been a magnificent experience, one of my greatest in football both as a player and a coach and one I want to personally thank him for."
The 47-year-old enjoyed success in his first stint as a manager with Sunderland, when he guided them into the Premier League and then kept them up before leaving after falling out with the board in February 2009.
He was named Ipswich boss in April that year but was sacked in January 2011 with the Tractor Boys just above the Championship relegation zone.
However, after eight years, in which time he has worked as Aston Villa's assistant manager under Paul Lambert and then with O'Neill at Forest and with the Irish national team, Keane feels ready to take over in the hotseat once again.
He is understood not to have a specific job lined up.
