FORMER IRELAND INTERNATIONAL Robbie Keane is stepping down from his role as Maccabi Tel Aviv manager, it has been confirmed.
The Tallaght native guided the team to the league title in his one season in charge but has opted to part ways with the Israeli club.
A message on Maccabi’s official website indicated Keane declined the opportunity to extend his contract.
Keane received heavy criticism back home after deciding to move to Israel last summer.
Sinn Féin TD Chris Andrews was among those to speak out on Twitter, writing: “Very very disappointing that Irish Football icon Robbie Keane would sign up with racist and apartheid Israeli club @MaccabitlvBC. Keane is in a position to set example and Boycott Apartheid but chose not to!!”
When asked about the criticism, Keane said: “I don’t want to get into politics. This is the last time I will say it, I certainly don’t want to get into politics. I’m here as a football man and someone that loves the game, so I will certainly just focus on that but thanks for your question.”
But in October, Keane had to temporarily flee Israel in the aftermath of the attack from Palestinian militant group Hamas.
Along with assistant coach Rory Delap, reportedly spent hours in a panic room before eventually making it to safety in Greece after fighting between Israel and Hamas has left hundreds dead at the time.
Owner Mitch Goldhar praised Keane and the other members of his coaching staff in the wake of the announcement.
“I would like to thank Robbie and his team, Rory Delap, Dave Sarakan, Mike Stawell, and Phillip Hudson for their hard work and dedication during this season and for bringing the championship back to Maccabi. Robbie and his team did their duty faithfully under difficult circumstances and that way I will always be grateful. Robbie, the club and the fans will always be connected to the challenges and success of the 2023/24 season.”
In addition to winning the league, Keane also guided the club to a historic Europa Conference League round of 16 spot. He brought the side to the brink of the quarters, but they lost the second leg to Olympiacos 6-1 after extra time, having won the first leg 4-1.
On the news, Keane added: “The decision to leave the Maccabi Tel Aviv football club was difficult for me. I want to thank the owners, all the players, the coaches, and the fans for making this season unforgettable. I am very proud of everything we achieved together as a team and especially proud of the hard work and dedication that led to winning the championship and the Toto Cup. I wish everyone involved in the club the best of luck in the Champions League and the upcoming season.”
Keane’s next move is uncertain but he has been among many names linked with the vacant Ireland manager’s job.
All the people bashing the man are key board warriors. No one here sacrifices anything for the greater good other than to hear the virtuous comments rebound around the echo chamber of this comment section.
The chap is an Irish sporting legend. And it isn’t his job to support your beliefs or values.
@David Ebbs: well said David.
@David Ebbs: Correct.
@David Ebbs: nice try Robbie
@David Ebbs: Nope. He’s in the privileged position to have made enough money in his career to have said no. Once again, he made the wrong decision and has been shown up for what he is. The fact that he was a brilliant player for Ireland has nothing to do with it.
@David Ebbs: Fair play David, well said and good to hear a balanced, rational view, rather than the xenophobic rubbish you constantly read on here. If you’re Irish you are pretty much expected to follow certain views, hate Britain, hate Israel, want a United Ireland, and god love you if you don’t conform to some of those view points. Fair play to Robbie for taking that job, sad thing is that in the minds of most Irish people, he is now tainted.
@The Firestarter: He had tainted his own image long before taking that job. That was the nail in the coffin. Should be a legend given what he did for country and yet he doesn’t have a good reputation. Some of it is probably undeserved but he has made some bad decisions or has been badly advised.
@The Firestarter: if you’re Irish you’re pretty much expected to hate Israel???? How do you make that out? Most Irish people are just disgusted with the ongoing slaughter of innocent Palestinians, just as they were disgusted with the murder and kidnapping of innocent Israelis.
@David Ebbs: rubbish… he happily drained the already messed up FAI and became a mercenary going to Israel. A man in his position can financially make the right call if they have any morals, he chose money over what was the right thing to do. He could of afforded differently but he demonstrated that money is his only moral
@The Firestarter: I don’t hate Israel and I don’t hate Jews I just hate genocide
“Ever since I was a child it was my dream to resign as Maccabi Tel Aviv manager”
@Eoin Nangle Ryan: Hero of the Toto cup!
Free Palestine
Took money over sheer decency and humanity. 7th October aside, it’s always been clear what that club has been about: nationalism and prejudice.
@Sam Bingham: you mean like all footballers, golfers, Tennis Players, F1 drivers etc etc etc.
@Sam Bingham: ‘Oct 7th aside’ seems to be the mantra of the pro Palestinian thinkers. Zero sympathy for Israelis, one sided thinking and for some reason, they all think they are the ‘good guys’. Very few people understand the nuance of the situation in that region besides headlines and mainstream opinions and slogans.
@Le Merchelant: in opinions, you mean like your own???
@Le Merchelant:
One doesn’t need to know all the nuances to see that Israel is engaging in genecide. Robbie is not short of a few bob and that well known. At some stage values have to come into a decision. No?
@Le Merchelant: speaking of “nuance” is the psuedo intellectual’s way of avoiding having to give any opinion of substance at all. And of masking the fact they know little about a given topic.
@Le Merchelant: Do you think we should recognise and allow a state to be created after people looking to create said state used terrorism to try and bring about that state?
Loved Robbie when he played for us but I would be sick if he got the job for the men’s team.
Surely he’s a better option than John O’Shea?
@Kevin Dillon: I’d agree. I don’t know how well he’d get on with the FAI after pocketing a salary cos he was still in contact but maybe there’s been enough change of personnel in the last while? Of course he’ll also have to deal with the fellas bent out of shape with the whole Palestine thing.
@Kevin Dillon: Very little credibility after the fiasco the last time, taking money for a job he wasn’t doing. And then managing that shower. After all the money he made in his career. Super player for Ireland but I wouldn’t let him manage my young lad’s U6 team.
@Brian M: to be fair he wouldn’t want to manage them lol
@S. Hurley: You haven’t seen my young lad play. He’s the next Robbie Keane.
I cant see the problem here, we should be giving him a big welcome home and hand him the Irish job, leave politics out of it especially by people who dont know the history of the land. Legend Robbie
@David Coyle: it’s beyond political, its genocide
“he’s been linked with vacant Ireland manager’s job,” ffs that ship sailed, oh I’d say about a year ago. I’m sure some right wing Eastern European club will have him, Lazio if they’re short of cash and options, Rangers Plc in Scotland. In Ireland, probably only Rovers would have the brass neck to appoint him if the job came up ..
@Ronan Byrne: I hope he comes back and manages in Ireland or the NT at some stage. He’s not into politics and I’m sick to death of the one sided tribe mentality in Ireland of ‘Palestine’. Zero clue when you dig deeper of the region for most people here. They can’t see past the slogans and mainstream bubble think.
@Le Merchelant: “They can’t see past the slogans and mainstream bubble”, surely you mean “They can’t see past the ethnic cleansing and slaughter of innocent Children”. Look whatever side of the fence your on, surely what’s going on currently is not the answer…… Agree??
@Ray Ridge: oh and there were no innocent Israeli children killed, kidnapped and some still held hostage?
I do agree that what is going on now is not the answer.
@David: I didn’t say there were no innocent Israeli children killed. Also, anybody who thinks hamas carried out the attacks on 7th October is innocent and green beyond belief. For not even a wasp crosses the Israeli border without detection. Think about it.
@Ray Ridge: ah good to see you’re delusion is not just applied to rugby.
So why did hamas take responsibility and said it was a “necessary step”. They also said they have “no regrets”.
@David: That’s the Israeli propaganda machine. Certainly they didn’t carry it out with Israeli involved. You mean to tell me a few hamas fighters waltzed over the border, carried out these atrocities, took hostages and waltzed back over the border into the sunset unbeknownst to the Israeli security. As I said, not even a wasp crosses that border. Stop it, please. Hamas fires about 100 rockets a year into Israeli, which 99 get shot down before they even hit the ground.
@Le Merchelant: why don’t you try to educate us meer mortals on the “Nuances” of the region then given you’ve dug deeper than most people here???
@Ray Ridge: Truly amazing that there are at least 12 people who believe this is true
Wow he beat the eventual winners 4-1
Chris Andrews didn’t try and stop Mary Sue hosting SF Dinners in the USA who are Isreals number 1 ally.
I hope he comes into contention for the ireland job if john or shea or. willie , sagnol , don’t get it..SF have some neck. Pot calling kettle black ar
Too little too late Robbie… He happily sells his soul for the right price
People don’t like Israel for different reasons, i know some Irish people don’t like them because of the amount of Irish soldiers that they killed.
Surely his next job must be in Moscow