Robbie Keane has surprised the football world by accepting the managerial position at Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv. The former Leeds United assistant, who worked under Sam Allardyce in a failed bid to keep the Whites in the Premier League, takes over from Aitor Karanka.
Keane, 43, previously served as an assistant coach for the Republic of Ireland and at Middlesbrough, where Karanka was formerly in charge. He also had a brief stint as player-manager in India, overseeing three games.
Maccabi Tel Aviv, Israel's most successful club with 23 league titles, have not won the championship since 2020. They finished third last season, eight points behind champions Maccabi Haifa. The club has previously attracted high-profile managers such as Jordi Cruyff and Slavisa Jokanovic.
Keane expressed his enthusiasm for the role, stating: 'I am happy to take on this challenge at Maccabi. My team and I are already looking forward to starting work and we are confident in our ability to do what is necessary to prepare the team for the upcoming season.'
Club owner Mitch Goldhar added: 'Robbie brings with him the mentality, character, energy and focus of a winner, qualities that he demonstrated everywhere he played. These characteristics combined with the ambitions to succeed as a coach are in line with our goals at Maccabi.'
Keane, who played for several Premier League clubs and had spells in Italy and the USA, had previously stated his willingness to go abroad for the right opportunity. 'I wouldn't be frightened to go abroad,' he said on the 'We Are Liverpool' podcast. 'If the right opportunity came up, whether that be in the MLS or abroad somewhere, I would definitely give it a go.'
