Robbie Keane has been named head coach of Hungarian champions Ferencvaros, marking a dramatic return to management for the former Republic of Ireland captain.
According to industry sources, Keane held discussions with several clubs before finally accepting the job at Ferencvaros. The forty-year-old, who left his post at Maccabi Tel Aviv in June, officially took up his position on Monday.
A club statement proclaimed: “We announce the successor to Dutchman Pascal Jansen to lead our team, 35-time champion and 24-time cup winner Robbie Keane, former 146-time Republic of Ireland international, has signed this Monday.” The new coach arrived in Budapest on Sunday evening and will join the team for their training camp in Spain on Tuesday.
This position became vacant following Jansen’s departure to New York City FC, one of the clubs that had expressed interest in Keane. Although he had considered the possibility of managing Cardiff City, Keane’s insistence on bringing in his staff posed an obstacle during negotiations with the Welsh Championship club.
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Additionally, he was considered for the coaching job at Coventry City, but the role ultimately went to Frank Lampard. Keane had also held talks with Belgian club Union SG and held talks with a Scottish Premiership club, while Greek club Asteras Tripolis and Turkish side Fahih Karagumruk were also in the running in as potential employers.
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Ultimately, the lure of competing in the Europa League proved decisive for Keane, as Ferencvaros presented an exciting challenge that he could not ignore. The Hungarian side have made a strong start to the season, winning three of their first six matches in the competition and positioning themselves favorably ahead of crucial group stage clashes against Eintracht Frankfurt and AZ Alkmaar.
-“The most important thing for me at a football club is the people, that’s the key,” Keane said after his appointment. “Alex Ferguson told me in the summer, don’t choose the club, choose the people, and that’s important. I can’t wait to meet the players and staff in Spain, that’s where the real work begins. This team, yes we know we are a good team, but what is a good team can you go out and excite the fans, can you play exciting, energetic football, the way I do? like to play?”
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Keane expressed optimism that fans will enjoy the style of play he wants to implement, regardless of the opposition. “We have to do it in every game. That will be the message from me to the players. No matter what team we play against, I want the fans to go home happy having seen a truly good football team,” a- he added.
With the aim of attracting more fans to the stadium, Keane stressed the importance of entertaining football: “I want to give the fans what they want, exciting football. Hopefully we can attract a lot more of fans and fill the stadium; Hungary is a big football country, with two million people in the city. My goal is to provide good football, and that is my goal for the future. of targets; my target is always the next match I know in my head. what I want to achieve; everyone wants to win. Once I see the players and assess their mentality, I will know what my own mentality is, and if we are in sync, we can progress and strive for it. be better every day.”
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Keane is now looking to replicate his previous success in Israel, where he led Maccabi Tel Aviv to the league title last May, and this marks his second permanent coaching job. Currently, Ferencvaros occupies second place in the Hungarian championship, just one point behind leaders Puskas Akademia.
