Robbie Keane paid an emotional tribute to his late mum today after being formally unveiled in his first managerial position.
The Ireland legend was appointed by Israeli giants, Maccabi Tel Aviv, on Monday and then introduced to the Press today where he signalled his intention to get the fallen giants back to the top of the Israeli league.
And after stating that he had no interest in political issues in the Middle East - ‘I am a football man’ - Keane thanked his mother, Anne, who passed away earlier this year for instilling the confidence in him to become a winner.
Keane said: “It was a difficult few months. I lost my mother. She always pushed me to be the best person I can be and to be the leader I am.
“I am sure she will be looking down and be very, very happy for me.”
Keane started work yesterday and signalled his intent to promote youth and turn Maccabi into a form of Keane’s Kids.
The ex-Tottenham captain said: “I like working with young players to help them get to a higher level. That is something I will be focusing on.
“I will be watching a lot of the young lads playing.
“I am not one of these guys who walks into a new club and tries to get rid of good people because it is not my style.
“I am a winner. I want to win all the time and I want people around me who has the same mentality.
“It is not going to be easy.
“But everywhere I have gone in my career, I have gone with the intention to win. That is not going to change.
“I am here to hit the ground running.
“I can’t predict where I will be in three, four, five years.
“I am here now. That is my focus - to do a job here.
“I strive under pressure. I have been used to it since I was young.
“I am confident in myself and the team around me.
“And I have been lucky in my career to play under brilliant managers, like Mick McCarthy, Martin Jol, Giovanni Trapattoni, Sam Allardyce.
“I have good people behind me that I can pick the phone up and call. I will take bits from a lot of different managers. But I will be my own man.
“I have travelled around; I have played in different countries and understand different cultures. I am not frightened of a challenge.
The Maccabi owner, Mitch Goldhall, added: “Robbie and I met numerous times (virtually) over the process and I was struck by his ambition to apply his extraordinary winning character to his coaching career.
“I felt our interests and ambitions were very much aligned. This is the moment to give Robbie the chance to apply that as a head coach and for us to benefit from his vast experience and his winning character.”
