Tottenham legend takes shock manager job in Hungary | OneFootball

Tottenham Hotspur legend Robbie Keane has been appointed manager of Hungarian side Ferencvaros.

The 44-year-old, who scored 122 goals for Tottenham across all competitions during two separate stints at the club, has previous coaching experience under his belt after spending a year in charge of Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Keane left the club in June after winning a league and cup double, having previously spent time acting as Middlesbrough and the Republic of Ireland's assistant manager. The prolific former striker also worked with Sam Allardyce at Leeds United when he attempted to help the Whites stave off relegation two seasons ago.

Ferencvaros have often competed in the Champions League as they are Hungarian football's dominant force. They have won their domestic league title for the last six years, winning the crown 35 times in total since their first success in 1903. They were previously coached by former AZ manager Pascal Jansen, but he departed the club on New Year's Eve after six months in charge.

Keane's venture into coaching follows a hugely successful playing career in England. Signed by Wolves as a 16-year-old, he scored twice on his first-team debut and soon after was a regular starter for the Republic of Ireland.

Robbie Keane won a league and cup double as Maccabi Tel Aviv manager / JACK GUEZ/GettyImages

Spells at Coventry, Inter and Leeds followed before Keane's career settled down at Tottenham in 2002. He finished as the club's top scorer in his first season, netting 13 times, and went one goal better the following year despite the Lilywhites' Premier League struggles.

Increased competition for places didn't perturb Keane, who went on to play a major role in Tottenham's development into top four contenders alongside Dimitar Berbatov. His regular goal-getting eventually earned a move to Liverpool in 2008 but he ended up re-joining Tottenham initially on loan in January before securing a permanent return.

With his Premier League career drawing to a close as he went past 30, Keane found a new lease life of in MLS with LA Galaxy. Signed as a designated player alongside David Beckham and Landon Donovan, Keane found his goal touch once more and enjoyed five hugely successful years in Los Angeles, netting 83 times in the league and a further 21 times in cup competition.

He retired in 2018 after a short spell in India, two years after ending an illustrious international career with the Republic of Ireland that saw him bag 68 goals in 146 appearances.