Irish soccer star Robbie Keane to become new Maccabi Tel Aviv coach
Keane and his team join Maccabi Tel Aviv on a 2-year-deal and are set to arrive in Tel Aviv in the coming days
Irish soccer legend Robbie Keane will become Maccabi Tel Aviv’s new coach, succeeding his Spanish colleague Aitor Karanka, the club announced on Monday.
The former Tottenham player will sign with the Israeli team for two years, according to the club's statement.
"Keane and his team join Maccabi Tel Aviv on a 2-year-deal and are set to arrive in Tel Aviv in the coming days and begin preparations for the forthcoming season," it said.
“I am delighted to take on this challenge at Maccabi. My team and I look forward to beginning work and we have confidence in our ability to do what is necessary to prepare the team for the coming season," Keane was quoted as saying.
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“Robbie brings the mentality, character, energy and focus of a winner, traits he exhibited everywhere he played. These characteristics now combined with ambitions to succeed as a coach are aligned with our objectives at Maccabi,” Maccabi’s owner, Mitch Goldhar, added.
The recruitment of Keane, however, was a gamble for the club. Although, considered a renowned player, his experience as a coach is limited to assistant positions in the Irish national team and Middlesbrough. Last season, Keane was part of the technical staff of Leeds United, who were relegated from the Premier League to the lower division.
According to Ynet, Maccabi Tel Aviv were also in talks with Portuguese defender Joao Correa, who could replace his compatriot Andre Geraldes.