Former Republic of Ireland striker, Robbie Keane, has expressed his delight with the first few weeks of his stay in Israel, where he took up the the role of head coach for the Israeli Premier League club, Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Keane, who had previously played in Tel Aviv as part of the Irish national team, stated,"My first few weeks in Tel Aviv have been really enjoyable.
"I’ve played here before for Ireland, but I was never able to spend much time in the city because you’re in and out. It’s absolutely beautiful,"said Ireland's top-scorer to Betway.
Keane also expressed his sense of honor at taking up his first head coaching position with Maccabi Tel Aviv. Despite facing criticism for his decision to take the job in June, Keane made it clear that he wanted to stay away from politics and focus solely on his love for football. He reiterated his dedication to the sport and his commitment to making a positive impact on the team.
Robbie Keane discusses his first few weeks as Maccabi Tel Aviv head coach, Ireland's debut at the Women's World Cup and more! 📖
— betway (@betway) July 21, 2023
"I don't want to get into politics. I think this is the last time I'll say this: I certainly don't want to get into politics. I'm here as a football man and somebody that loves the game so I'll certainly just focus on that.
Acknowledging the club's immense stature, Keane remarked, "I don’t think people back at home realise how big the club is. I certainly did, but I’m not sure from the outside." For Keane, the opportunity to coach a club with such a significant history was a no-brainer, and he was eager to take on the challenge.
Looking ahead, Keane has set ambitious goals for Maccabi Tel Aviv. He aspires to guide the team to the illustrious Champions League, but he understands that the path to achieving this lies through the Europa Conference League. He highlighted, "One of the big reasons I came here was to have the opportunity to manage in UEFA competitions. This year we’re in the Europa Conference League, and if we do well in the league, then there’s the carrot of getting into the Champions League or Europa League."
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