[Nicky91]

https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/spo...enham-manager/

ROBBIE KEANE has made a shock move into management and signed up in ISRAEL.

The former Celtic, Spurs and Liverpool frontman has taken the reins at Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Keane spent six months on loan at his beloved Hoops under Tony Mowbray in 2010.

But since retiring from the game after a spell in the MLS at LA Galaxy the Irish striker has been earning his stripes in the dugout.

Keane has worked as an assistant at Middlesbrough and Leeds United as well as his national side.

He also had a short spell as player-manager in the Indian Superleague.

The 42-year-old has signed a two-year deal with the Israeli Premier League side who finished third - 10 points off champions Maccabi Haifa.

Maccabi enter this season's Uefa Conference League and boast another Hoops link in the ranks - ex-midfielder Nir Bitton is part of the first team squad.

Keane replaces ex-Boro boss Aitor Karanka at the Bloomfield Stadium.

The new boss said: "I am happy to take on this challenge at Maccabi.

"My team and I are already looking forward to starting work and we are confident in our ability to do what is necessary to prepare the team for the upcoming season."

Owner Mitch Goldhar added: "Robbie brings with him the mentality, character, energy and focus of a winner, qualities that he demonstrated everywhere he played.

"These characteristics combined with the ambitions to succeed as a coach are in line with our goals at Maccabi."

Keane pased his coaching A course while still a player in California and completed his Pro lisence a few years later.

As a player he scored more than 300 goals in over 20 years - and even had a spell at Inter Milan in a well-travelled career.

He moved to Celtic Park on loan from Tottenham on deadline day in 2010 but his manager was sacked a few weeks later.

He said he had never hidden his ambition to play for Celtic and fulfilled a childhood dream when he joined.

It was a successful spell persoanlly too with 12 goals in just 16 appearances and a Celtic fans' player of the year award.

the new coach of former PSV stars Eran Zahavi, Derrick Luckassen, and former AZ player Joris van Overeem



Keane replaces Aitor Karanka