LONDON, Jan. 6 (dpa/EP) –
The Irishman Robbie Keane has been appointed Ferencvaros coach as a replacement for the Dutchman Pascal Jansen, the Hungarian league champion confirmed this Monday.
The 44-year-old, who stepped down as Maccabi Tel Aviv coach in June after leading the Israeli club to the league title, replaces Jansen following his departure to New York City FC.
“We announce the successor of the Dutchman Pascal Jansen at the helm of our team, 35-time league champion and 24-time Cup winner: the 146-time Republic of Ireland cap Robbie Keane signed this Monday. The new coach arrived in Budapest on Sunday night and will leave on Tuesday to join our team in Spain,” the club said.
Keane scored a record 68 goals for the senior team during a 19-year career in which he played for Wolverhampton, Coventry, Inter Milan, Leeds, Tottenham, Liverpool, Celtic, West Ham, Los Angeles Galaxy and Aston Villa.
In 2018 he became coach of India’s ATK and worked as assistant to Ireland coach Mick McCarthy during his second spell in charge, later taking on a similar role under former ‘Spurs teammate Jonathan Woodgate. ‘, at Middlesbrough.
He was part of Sam Allardyce’s squad at Leeds, which unsuccessfully tried to save itself from relegation from the Premier League at the end of the 2022-23 season, but Maccabi offered him his first opportunity as head coach.
Keane guided the Tel Aviv club to a league and cup double and took them to the round of 16 of the Conference League in his only season at the helm. However, his time sparked criticism in his country, Ireland, after he chose to remain in his position following Israel’s military action in Gaza.
Keane, who will be accompanied in Budapest by his assistant coach, Rory Delap, and analyst Phill Hudson, later declared that he had stayed for the good of his players and his squad, and revealed that he had turned down a lucrative offer to continue at his club. position.