Mumbai, January 7: In a significant development for Hungarian football, legendary Irishman Robbie Keane has been appointed head coach of Ferencvaros, the reigning Hungarian Championship champions. Keane takes on the role as the club aim for an incredible sixth consecutive title, while also aspiring to progress in the Europa League competition.
Announcing the news on Monday, Ferencvaros confirmed that Keane will officially take charge on Tuesday at a mid-winter training camp in Spain. He succeeds Pascal Jansen, who left the club after a brief spell, having been Arne Slot’s assistant at Dutch side AZ Alkmaar.
Keane’s first assignment will be a decisive Europa League clash against Eintracht Frankfurt on January 23, with the team currently well positioned to qualify for the knockout stages after finishing in the upper echelon of the table among 36 teams . The five-time consecutive defending champions will return to domestic championship action in February, currently occupying second place, just behind leaders Puskas Akademia.
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Aged 44, Keane is making his return to the managerial scene after a stint with Maccabi Tel Aviv, where he managed to win the Israeli league title in his debut season, despite the challenges facing the club has faced security concerns following Hamas attacks.
Previously, Keane gained experience as an assistant coach with the Ireland national team, Middlesbrough and Leeds United. A central figure in the history of Irish football, he holds national records with 146 caps and 68 goals. During a legendary playing career spanning two decades, he showcased his talent at major clubs including Tottenham, Inter Milan, Liverpool, Leeds United and LA Galaxy.
