By:
Mark Hendry
Robbie Keane believes a potential draw against Celtic for his Ferencvaros side may be “written in the stars”.
The Hungarian giants arrived in the UK on Thursday evening hoping to make the top eight.
However they were battered by Nottingham Forest 4-0 to leave them facing a playoff.
Ferencvaros and Keane could be pitted against either the Hoops or Ludogorets in Friday’s draw.
But the Republic of Ireland icon is convinced fate could bring him back to Scotland to take on his old club.
Celts are also managed by interim Martin O’Neill who worked with Keane with the national team.
Robbie Keane says Celtic vs Ferencvaros ‘written in the stars’
And that, for the retired striker, is another reason he feels it may be a draw that comes true.
“There is going to be talk, because I played for Celtic, but I don’t really care,” he said.
“You always want to play against very, very experienced managers.
“I’ve done it twice this campaign, with Rafa (Benitez), and then Sean (Dyche), who has got wealth of experience.
“There aren’t many more experienced than Martin.
“And what he’s done in the game and what he’s done since he’s come back to Celtic, because he’s given a lot of energy to the club, of course, a lot of energy to the players, with a club that was obviously very, very down.
“That’s what Martin does.
“So maybe it’s written in the stars, myself against Martin, I don’t know.
“But again, regardless of who we play in the two games, it will be so difficult.”
Keane has had a very decent first campaign in charge of Ferencvaros.
The club currently sit third in their domestic division but are within touching distance of the league leaders.
They have now also made the playoffs in Europe.
Not too shabby for the 45-year-old boss who only has a stint as Maccabi Haifa gaffer to rely on.
How Ferencvaros’ Europa League group campaign ended
Still, the chance to return to Scotland and face Celtic will surely be a dream for him.
Keane was a Celtic manager option before the club hired Wilfried Nancy.
So his name still carries some weight in Glasgow.
It won’t all be about the Scots, though, who themselves won three games and drew twice in the competition.
Ferencvaros finished above their possible opponents in 12th while Celtic ended their campaign in 21st.
Four wins and three draws for Keane’s side had them in with a shout on matchday eight for an automatic spot.
Either way, Keane will have a good chance of making the next round beyond the playoffs.
His results so far have proven just that.
Categories
- Athletics (5)
- Aussie Rules (1)
- Basketball (12)
- Camogie (3)
- College American football (1)
- Combat (185)
- Cricket (17)
- Cycling (4)
- Darts (36)
- Editors-picks (13)
- Football (1210)
- Formula-1 (14)
- GAA (308)
- Golf (162)
- Hockey (1)
- Horse Racing (172)
- interviews (3)
- LGFA (3)
- MLB Baseball (2)
- NFL (23)
- ROI Radar (1)
- Rowing (1)
- Rugby (188)
- Snooker (6)
- Swimming (3)
- Tennis (17)
- Uncategorized (17)
- WWE (1)
