By:
Conor Martin
Ferencvaros manager Robbie Keane has turned down a move to Championship club Middlesbrough in order to remain in Hungary.
Middlesbrough sacked ex-Manchester United player and former England international Michael Carrick on Wednesday.
The Teesside club have dismissed Carrick after two and a half years in charge. During his time, Boro missed out on the play-offs in their last two seasons.
Former Republic of Ireland player Keane has had a successful year with Hungary’s most successful club side, winning the top-flight title with Ferencvaros.
Keane made himself a Premier League icon with Tottenham, scoring 126 goals in 349 appearances. He also played for Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Leeds and Coventry.
Thursday, the 5th June, also marks the 23rd anniversary of his late heroics at the 2002 World Cup. Keane scored one of the most iconic goals in Irish history when he struck late against the eventual World Cup finalists, Germany.
Keane is making a name for himself in the managerial world. In the 2023-2024 season, he the Israeli Premier League with Maccabi Tel Aviv and also won a cup before he left the Israeli side after the war in Gaza between Israel and Palestine worsened.
After hanging up his boots, Keane started out at the Indian side ATK upon his retirement in 2018. ATK were Keane’s final club, but his time managing in Kolkata didn’t last long.
Robbie Keane previously impressed at Middlesbrough
Keane was assistant to Jonathan Woodgate at Middlesbrough during the 2019-2020 season. Steve Gibson, Boro’s owner, is said to be impressed by Keane during his time at the club and what he has gone on to achieve so far as a manager.
Keane now will continue to focus on his duties in Hungary with Ferencváros next season.
The Hungarian title holders will enter the draw as a seeded side in the second qualifying round.
They’ll need to win two qualifying rounds in order to reach the league phase. They last got to that stage when the competition had its old format, when they took part in the group stages of the competition during the 2020/21 season.
Should he take his side to the league stage of the Champions League, then surely more English clubs and beyond will sit up and pay attention.
After winning the Hungarian title back in May, Keane did speak about his managerial ambitions.
“I’m taking a different route from everybody else. I’m not scared to go abroad and learn the trade with two top teams. Eventually, of course, at some stage, but I’m really enjoying it at the moment.
“It’s a massive club, great people that work there. Fans are great, so all I have to do is keep winning, keep enjoying myself and who knows what will happen in the future.”
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