Budapest: Former Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane has been appointed as the head coach of Hungarian champions Ferencvaros. The announcement came on Monday, marking a new chapter for the team as Keane steps in to replace Dutchman Pascal Jansen. The club, boasting a record of 35 championships and 24 cup victories, confirmed Keane's signing in a statement.

According to Anadolu Agency, the 44-year-old arrived in Budapest on Sunday evening to finalize contract negotiations. Following the successful talks, Keane is set to depart for Spain on Tuesday to join the team's training camp. This appointment continues Keane's managerial journey, which began in 2018 when he debuted as a player-manager for ATK. He later held coaching positions with the Republic of Ireland national team, Middlesbrough, and Leeds United.

Keane's recent tenure as manager of Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv was marked by notable successes, including winning the Israeli Premier League title and league cup in the 2023-2024 season. His leadership also guided Maccabi to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League. As a player, Keane's illustrious career featured stints with Inter Milan and several English Premier League clubs, including Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, West Ham United, and Aston Villa.

Ferencvaros currently holds the second position in the Hungarian top-division standings and ranks 16th in the Europa League table. Keane's extensive experience both on and off the field is anticipated to bring new strategies and energy to the team as they aim to improve their standings domestically and in European competitions.