Robbie Keane's Champions League dates with destiny await
Asked about Qarabag defeating Ferencváros three years ago, Robbie Keane replied, “Why would I watch a match from three years ago? No previous James Bond movie will be the same as the next." Pic: Christian Kaspar-Bartke/Getty Images
Had Damien Duff not walked away before Shelbourne’s European odyssey, his old Ireland partner Robbie Keane might be on the phone this week seeking insider knowledge.
Ferencváros are 180 minutes away from progressing into the league phase of the Champions League for the first time in five years. Keane is at the helm and blocking their path are Qarabag.
They’re the Azerbaijani side that tumbled Shelbourne from the Champions League into the Europa with a 4-0 aggregate victory.
Duff was still in charge of Shels when they were drawn against Linfield in the competition, ironically the team they must beat again to sample league stage involvement in the Conference League.
Joey O’Brien stepped up when his boss Duff quit in June and, although he’s a past Ireland colleague of Keane’s too, the rapport Keane had with the latter was foremost to qualifying for a World Cup and Euros over a decade as Ireland’s leading lights.
Confronting Keane is an opportunity to cement himself in the Ferencváros hotseat.
He delivered what was expected after being appointed in January by overseeing their club’s eighth Hungarian title in a row but it’s on the European stage the owners harbour ambitions of making their mark.
That was evidenced by Keane selecting a second string for Saturday’s league game.
It resulted in the first defeat of their title defence, against rivals Puskás Akadémia too, but it was felt both a necessary and tolerable action given Qarabag go into Tuesday’s first leg fresh from a weekend postponement.
Prize-money rising to €20m and eight games in Uefa’s premier club competition are on the line.
“I rested ten men against the Puskás Academy and we could have won if we had taken advantage of our opportunities,” said Ireland’s record goalscorer at Monday’s pre-match press conference.
“But that is in the past, let’s leave it behind us. This is a completely different series than the league - everyone is talking about how this match is more important than anything else.
"This is a big opportunity for our club because in recent years it has not had such a major chance to get into the Champions League.
“There’s a huge motivation for both players and coaches to enter the highest level."
By beating Ludogorets in last week’s second leg, following a scoreless first 90, Keane’s side have the parachute of Europa League involvement.
Nevertheless, dining at the top table is what’s driving the 45-year-old.
Trophies were delivered during his first standalone role at Maccabi Tel Aviv, bringing eventual winners Olympiacos to extra-time in the last-16 of the Conference League, but the political backdrop influenced his decision to quit Israel.
He was back on the managerial circuit six months later and has moulded an exciting team that features a sprinkling of Hungarian players Ireland will likely face in the opening World Cup qualifier in Dublin on September 6.
Teenager Alex Tóth has become a target for German and Italian clubs through his midfield brilliance while 20-year-old striker Zsombor Gruber has begun the season ablaze. Veteran forward Barnabás Varga bagged a brace against the Bulgarian champions last week.
Keane also has within his armoury a player he briefly crossed paths with in the Ireland squad. Callum O’Dowda was last month recruited from Brian Barry Murphy’s Cardiff City, slotting straight into a left-sided role.
Qarabag dumped Ferencváros out of Europe in 2022 but Keane offered a typically forthright answer when asked about it influencing this outcome.
“Why would I watch a match from three years ago!? No previous James Bond movie will be the same as the next.
“I’ve watched Qarabag’s current matches, which are relevant. The teams are very even but I'll keep what I told my players to myself.
“I don't want to spill any information because the opposing head coach is definitely listening to the press conference.
“There are elements of the game that we need to improve on, both individually and as a team, but the most important thing will be not to concede a goal. This could be the key to progressing from this tie."
Keane has his GoldenEye firmly fixed in a View to a Kill.
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