Robbie Keane turns down Middlesbrough job, opting to stay with Ferencvaros
Ferencváros head coach Robbie Keane and assistant manager Rory Delap during his side's game against ETO Gyor. Pic: INPHO/Aleksandar Djorovic
Robbie Keane’s rising stock on the managerial ladder was reflected by him rejecting the opportunity to take over Championship club Middlesbrough on Thursday.
Boro are on the lookout for a new boss – where the Ireland legend previously worked for a year as assistant to Jonathan Woodgate – after parting ways on Wednesday with Keane’s friend Michael Carrick.
The 44-year-old has enjoyed a stellar start to his coaching career, following up his Israeli league success with Maccabi Tel Aviv in his first job with another in Hungary.
He accepted the post in Budapest in January, leading Fradi to their seventh successive title only a fortnight ago.
Keane’s growing reputation convinced Boro owner Steve Gibson to target Ireland’s record goalscorer but they must expand their search after Keane respectfully declined the opportunity.
The Dubliner has followed up his glittering playing career – part of the Premier League’s 100-goal club and Ireland’s record scorer and caps holder - with a patient ascent through the managerial ranks.
That began with a brief caretaker spell as player-manager of Indian club ATK in 2018 before being part of Mick McCarthy’s coaching ticket on his return to the Ireland job a year later.
Keane job-shared for a while when reuniting with former Leeds and Tottenham Hotspur colleague Woodgate at Boro but he was left furious at the manner of his removal from FAI duties.
Although John Delaney hired Keane on a four-year deal, longer than McCarthy’s, Stephen Kenny opted for Damien Duff over the fellow Irish centurion when the succession plan activated early in 2020.
That created an unedifying episode of one Ireland’s greatest sportsman continuing to collect a six-figure annual salary while the FAI struggled to agree an alternative position beyond the men’s senior team.
Keane returned to the club circuit briefly on Sam Allardyce’s backroom team in a last-ditch effort by Leeds United to stave off relegation but his migration into standalone management was contentious.
Maccabi Tel Aviv are a club associated with the Israeli State regime and despite Keane stonewalling questions on politics at his unveiling, the escalation of war following the October 7 attack in 2023 threw the spotlight on his stewardship.
Collecting the League Cup constituted initial success but it was Keane’s feat of regaining the league title that endeared him to the home faithful.
Keane quit, leaving a lucrative contract and Champions League football behind, but was headhunted by the Hungarian giants when their vacancy arose over Christmas.
He would eventually defend his silence on the Israel/Palestine conflict, speaking in January after what was deemed a ceasefire.
“I appreciate it’s a completely sensitive situation to people and thankfully for everybody’s sake, it’s finished: nobody wants to see a war,” he said.
“And certainly not me or anybody. I’ve got kids – I’m sensitive like everybody is. We’re all sensitive, no matter what, if you’ve got a family.
“Out of respect I haven’t spoken too much about it because at the end of the day, I’ve got a duty of care to my family also.’
“Unfortunately, I can’t control what people say.”
Keane, flanked by his former Ireland teammate Rory Delap, has delivered on his mandate in Hungary by staving off competition from Puskas Akademia, the hometown club of Viktor Orban.
Details of his contract length weren’t disclosed but he’s shunned the chance of returning to England.
Local hero Carrick paid the price for failing to reach the Championship playoffs for the second successive year. Sheffield Wednesday boss Danny Rohl, former Luton Town chief Rob Edwards and Jon Dahl Tomasson now lead the contenders heading to the north-east.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
