Keane guides Ferencvaros to Hungarian title on final day

Former Ireland striker makes it two league titles in the space of two seasons after winning an Israeli Premier League with Tel Aviv last year 

CHAMPIONS AGAIN: Ferencváros manager Robbie Keane. Pic: INPHO/Aleksandar Djorovic

Robbie Keane has won the second league title of his managerial career after the former Ireland striker guided Ferencvaros to a Hungarian championship on Saturday night. 

Keane walked away from his controversial role at Maccabi Tel Aviv last summer having secured an Israeli Premier League crown in the 2023-24 season. He took up the reins in Budapest in early January with the historic giants of Hungarian football in danger of missing out on a 36th league title. 

Having endured a rocky beginning there however, Keane managed to impressively turn things around with his talented squad. On Saturday night Ferencvaros defeated fourth-placed Gyor away to seal the title ahead of rivals Puskas Akademia. 

Puskas entered the final night three points behind Keane's men and with a vastly inferior goal difference. However the Hungarian league's first tie-breaker is game's won not goal difference. So had Ferencvaros lost, Puskas Akademia still had a chance at the title. 

However young defender Gábor Szalai gave Keane's side the lead just before half-time and they doubled it shortly after the break when French striker Lenny Joseph scored. A late Miljan Krpic effort for the hosts caused few nerves as Ferencvaros held on for their 10th win in the last 13 to raise the champions' banner again.