Tottenham Hotspur legend lands on feet with first European managerial role despite Leeds United relegation

Former Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United legend Robbie Keane has been appointed manager of Israeli Premier League outfit Maccabi Tel Aviv in a landmark career move for the talisman.

Keane, who netted 125 Premier League goals during his career, was confirmed as the Maccabi Tel Aviv manager on Monday in what is the former player's first managerial role after stints as an assistant.

Most recently, the 42-year-old worked as an assistant to Sam Allardyce at Leeds United having held a similar role at Middlesbrough and for the Republic of Ireland national side.

Keane has put pen to paper on a two-year deal with the Tel Aviv side, who will compete in the Europa Conference League next season having finished third place in the nation's domestic league.

Keane told the club’s official website: “I am delighted to take on this challenge at Maccabi. My team and I look forward to beginning work and we have confidence in our ability to do what is necessary to prepare the team for the coming season.”

Maccabi’s owner, Mitch Goldhar, added: “Robbie brings the mentality, character, energy and focus of a winner, traits he exhibited everywhere he played. These characteristics now combined with ambitions to succeed as a coach are aligned with our objectives at Maccabi.”

Maccabi Tel Aviv have competed in the Champions League and Europa League in recent years, reaching the Champions League group stages in both 2015 and 2016.

It's not Keane's first post-playing role in Asia having worked as player-manager at ATK in India for a short stint in 2018 towards the back end of his year-long stay at the club before hanging up his boots.

The Irishman made over 300 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, scoring 122 times in the process. He also turned out for West Ham United 10 times along with spells at Liverpool, Celtic, LA Galaxy, Wolves, Leeds United and Inter Milan.