LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM), June 26. (PA Media/dpa/EP) –
The former Irish striker Robbie Keane has been appointed this Monday as the new coach of Israel’s Maccabi Tel Aviv, replacing the Spanish Aitor Karanka, who terminated his contract by mutual agreement this Sunday as the team’s coach after six months.
“I am delighted to take on this challenge at Maccabi. My team and I are looking forward to getting to work and we are confident in our ability to do what is necessary to prepare the team for next season,” Keane said in the statement issued by the club announcing his hiring.
Keane was part of Sam Allardyce’s coaching staff at English club Leeds United last season, but his career was looking for a new destination after the club confirmed their relegation to the Championship.
Now, at Maccabi, the 42-year-old former soccer player will begin his first great adventure as head coach, after his brief stint at ATK, of the Indian Super League, in 2018. In addition, he has been assistant coach at English Middlesborough and the Irish team.
Maccabi is the most successful club in Israeli football with 23 league titles in its cupboards, but they have not managed to win it since 2020. Last season they finished third, which has opened the doors of the Conference League for them next season, which will start with a home qualifier against Moldovan side Petrocub Hincesti in July.
Club owner Mitch Goldhar said the Irishman brings “the mentality, character, energy and focus of a winner”, something he showed in “every team he played for”. “These characteristics, now combined with ambitions to succeed as a coach, are in line with our goals,” he concluded.