Robbie Keane will be working alongside another well known Premier League hero after taking over the reigns at Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Football fans were caught off guard this week when Ireland's record goalscorer took over the reigns at Israel's most successful outfit. The club have won their national league title 23 times, but could only manage third place last season, leading to the axing of ex-Middlesbrough boss Aitor Karanka.
But few were expecting them to turn to Keane, who worked with Sam Allardyce at Leeds during his ill-fated four game stint to try and save the club from relegation. After picking up just a single point from four games, 'Big Sam' was shown the door and his assistants went with him.
Keane, 42, was previously a player manager at Indian side ITK in 2018, and has also coached with Middlesbrough and his national team. And Irish fans will be well familiar with his first signings through the door in his new role.
Iconic Stoke midfielder Rory Delap has been confirmed as Keane’s assistant head coach. Andy Liddell will serve an senior fitness coach and Phillip Hudson as senior performance analyst.
Delap, who also represented Derby, Southampton, and Sunderland in England's top flight, spent seven seasons with the Potters from 2006-2013. He made 208 appearances for the club, and became famed for being able to hurl in long throws, a notion synonymous with the Tony Pulis era.
After retiring in 2013, Delap returned to the club as a first team coach, and in November 2019 was appointed as caretaker manager after Nathan Jones was sacked. He left Stoke in January this year, but is now back in football with former teammate Keane.
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Speaking after his appointment was confirmed, the former Spurs star said: "I am happy to take on this challenge at Maccabi. My team and I are already looking forward to starting work and we are confident in our ability to do what is necessary to prepare the team for the upcoming season."
Owner Mitch Goldhar added: "Robbie brings with him the mentality, character, energy and focus of a winner, qualities that he demonstrated everywhere he played. These characteristics combined with the ambitions to succeed as a coach are in line with our goals at Maccabi."
It has been three years since 'the Yellows' last landed their league title. And their last appearance in the Champions League group stages came back in 2015/16.
