Robbie Keane returns to football as manager of Europa League club months after quitting Maccabi Tel Aviv
ROBBIE KEANE has returned to management by taking over a Europa League side.
Keane, 44, had been a free agent since June when he quit his position as Maccabi Tel Aviv boss.
The Irish tactician, however, will be back in the dugout soon after his seven-month hiatus.
The ex-Premier League star has been announced as the new manager of Ferencvaros.
The Hungarian giants targeted the ex-Tottenham star last summer and held talks with his representatives.
Fradi, though, opted for Pascal Jansen but he was eventually “bought out of his contract”.
Ferencvaros rekindled their interest in the former striker and reached an agreement shortly after the New Year.
Keane flew to Budapest on Sunday and put pen to paper with his new team the next day.
The Republic of Ireland great is now set to jet off to Spain on Tuesday to link up with his new players during their winter training camp.
Ferencvaros issued the following statement: “We announce the successor to Dutchman Pascal Jansen to lead our 35-time champion and 24-time cup winner team, as the 146-time national team player of the Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane has signed on Monday.
“The new head coach arrived in Budapest on Sunday evening and will leave on Tuesday to join our team at the training camp in Spain.”
Keane’s first match in charge of Ferencvaros will take place on Friday during a friendly match against Preussen Munster.
The ex-Liverpool ace is then facing two crunch Europa League clashes against Eintracht Frankfurt and AZ Alkmaar.