Former Tottenham Hotspur icon Robbie Keane delivered a distinctly irritable and technology-focused retort before storming away from reporters when questioned about the open managerial position at his old team. The current Ferencvaros manager was addressing the media pitchside after observing his Hungarian side secure a commanding 4-0 victory in the Hungarian Cup on Wednesday evening.
Keane's Abrupt Exit After Managerial Speculation
When directly asked by a journalist, 'If it comes to it, would you expect their invitation for you to become the manager?', Keane responded with visible annoyance. The 45-year-old Irishman grumpily shrugged his shoulders and sharply stated, 'I can't help speculation,' before immediately terminating the interview and walking off.
Keane's Coaching Journey and Current Standing
Robbie Keane, who has been at the helm of Hungarian outfit Ferencvaros since January of last year, is presently listed as the fourth favourite for the Tottenham job at odds of 11/2. His coaching career, while still in its relatively early stages, has spanned multiple continents and roles.
Keane's initial managerial experience came as a player-manager with ATK in India, followed by an assistant role with the Republic of Ireland national team. He subsequently served as an assistant at Middlesbrough and Leeds United before stepping up to become the head coach at Maccabi Tel Aviv. There, he clinched the league title in his sole season before deciding to leave.
This successful momentum has continued with Ferencvaros, where his team currently leads the Hungarian title race. During his illustrious playing career, the prolific striker made over 200 appearances across two spells with Tottenham, netting an impressive 91 goals for the club.
Tottenham's Managerial Search and Current Crisis
Intense speculation surrounds Tottenham's pursuit of a new manager after the club decided to dismiss Thomas Frank earlier this week following a home defeat to Newcastle United. The North London side is suffering through a calamitous season, languishing in 16th place and being pulled into a relegation battle.
According to the latest bookmakers' odds, the frontrunner to assume the Spurs hotseat is former Marseille boss Roberto de Zerbi, who departed the French club after a heavy 5-0 loss to PSG this week. John Heitinga, recently appointed as an assistant, is the second favourite, with Mauricio Pochettino in third place and Robbie Keane occupying the fourth spot.
Despite their domestic struggles, the incoming Tottenham manager will at least have the opportunity to guide the team in the Champions League knockout stages, as they successfully qualified from the group phase.
