Robbie Keane rolls up in charge of Maccabi Tel Aviv
ROLY-POLYING BACK INTO THE NEWS
As well as the flurry of predictable gags about Robbie Keane growing up as a kid in Tallaght with posters of assorted Maccabi Tel Aviv legends Football Daily has never heard of adorning his bedroom wall, news of the former Republic of Ireland striker’s recent appointment as the Israeli club’s new manager has prompted plenty of reaction. Since a brief spell as player-manager of Indian Super League team ATK in 2018, Keane has dabbled in coaching without ever taking on a full-time management role. He helped out Mick McCarthy during his most recent stint as Ireland manager, worked alongside Jonathan Woodgate at Middlesbrough and was last spotted filling the Sammy Lee-shaped void in Big Sam’s backroom team after a judge refused to release the former England midfielder from jury service in time for a doomed attempt to keep Leeds in the Premier League.
Earlier this week, in an announcement few saw coming, it was revealed Keane was to be unveiled as Maccabi’s new manager, where he’ll be joined by former teammate Rory Delap, who will work as his assistant. And while the Irishman is to be commended for straying off the well-beaten, more traditional Football League track in a bid to to earn his managerial stripes, his decision to do so has prompted anger in certain quarters, including the Irish parliament, where Sinn Féin representative
Mark Ward has described Keane’s decision to take a job in Israel as “deeply disappointing” and “another attempt at sportswashing”. Asked about the political implications at his opening press conference, Keane politely declined to address them and elected instead to channel his inner Eddie Howe. “I don’t want to get into politics,” he said. “I think this is the last time I’ll say this: I certainly don’t want to get into poli