Maccabi Tel Aviv name Spurs legend Keane as new boss

Tottenham Hotspur legend Robbie Keane has been named as the new manager of Maccabi Tel Aviv in a move that surprised the football world.

Maccabi, who finished third in last season’s Israeli Premier League, announced the deal on Monday which will see the Irishman, 42, take charge for the 2023-24 season, which includes fixtures in the qualifying rounds of the Europa Conference League.

“I am happy to take on this challenge at Maccabi,” Keane said, after signing a two-year deal with the Israeli side.

“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.”

The former Republic of Ireland, Spurs and Coventry striker most recently spent the final weeks of last season as assistant manager to Sam Allardyce at Leeds United in their failed attempt to stop Premier League relegation.

He also spent time at Middlesborough in a coaching role.

The Tel Aviv side’s owner Mitch Goldhar said if his team’s new head coach: “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.”