ROLY-POLYING BACK INTO THE NEWS
As well as the flurry of predictable gags about Robbie Keane growing up as a kid in Tallaght with posters of assorted Maccabi Tel Aviv legends Football Daily has never heard of adorning his bedroom wall, news of the former Republic of Ireland striker’s recent appointment as the Israeli club’s new manager has prompted plenty of reaction. Since a brief spell as player-manager of Indian Super League team ATK in 2018, Keane has dabbled in coaching without ever taking on a full-time management role. He helped out Mick McCarthy during his most recent stint as Ireland manager, worked alongside Jonathan Woodgate at Middlesbrough and was last spotted filling the Sammy Lee-shaped void in Big Sam’s backroom team after a judge refused to release the former England midfielder from jury service in time for a doomed attempt to keep Leeds in the Premier League.
Earlier this week, in an announcement few saw coming, it was revealed Keane was to be unveiled as Maccabi’s new manager, where he’ll be joined by former teammate Rory Delap, who will work as his assistant. And while the Irishman is to be commended for straying off the well-beaten, more traditional Football League track in a bid to to earn his managerial stripes, his decision to do so has prompted anger in certain quarters, including the Irish parliament, where Sinn Féin representative Mark Ward has described Keane’s decision to take a job in Israel as “deeply disappointing” and “another attempt at sportswashing”. Asked about the political implications at his opening press conference, Keane politely declined to address them and elected instead to channel his inner Eddie Howe. “I don’t want to get into politics,” he said. “I think this is the last time I’ll say this: I certainly don’t want to get into politics. I’m here as a football man and somebody that loves the game so I’ll certainly just focus on that. It’s the right opportunity to work with people that’s got the same vision as me. There’s millions of coaches out there trying to get jobs and I’m no different.”
While Keane could justifiably argue that Maccabi Tel Aviv are not an arm of the Israeli state and will be allowed to compete in European competition next season, he has chosen not to. He will get to manage them in Tin Pot second qualifying round if he can hold on to his job for long enough. The club’s ninth managerial appointment in the past three years, he will need to hit the ground cartwheeling, or at the very least in his roly-poly goal celebration style of yore, if he is to hang around for long enough to attract more opprobrium. He has promised attacking and entertaining front-foot football, but should he fail to deliver at least the club’s fans can reassure themselves with the knowledge that their team’s throw-ins will be long.
QUOTE OF THE DAY
“England were at least one level better than us. They have a lot of players with potential and an amazing depth in the squad. We had imagined it all differently” – amid ongoing worries with the senior team, Germany U-21 coach Antonio Di Salvo laments their early exit from the European Championship at the hands of England, whose comfortable 2-0 win rounded off the group with maximum points. Portugal await in the last eight on Sunday.
FOOTBALL DAILY LETTERS
Your recall of British players in Germany (yesterday’s Football Daily) failed to mention Paul Lambert and his time at Borussia Dortmund. Lambert was the first Brit to gain a winners’ medal in the newly formed Big Cup and was pivotal in Dortmund’s run, defeating Manchester United in the semi-final and Juventus in the final. Lambert supplied the cross for the opening goal in the final and was credited with quelling the threat of a certain Zinedine Zidane” – Danny Sullivan.
Although I’m not an economist, I find myself extremely concerned by commodity prices skyrocketing to unprecedented heights. A whopping £105m for Rice! Some £60m for Kane … sugar! And more than £30m for Timber! The only good news is that Tin remains relatively affordable” – Peter Oh.
Anyone who thinks Declan Rice is overpriced should consider some of the offerings Arsenal have foisted on West Ham over the years” – Steve Butler.
While looking for a work-related email, I found the edition of your tea-timely missive from 2 September 2022, the day after the transfer window shut. Here’s what you had to say: ‘On the face of it, Manchester City, Newcastle, Leeds and Southampton appear to have done pretty good business, while Bournemouth and Leicester have not.’ I guess a 50% guess rate isn’t too bad” – Albert Lo.
Send your letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Peter Oh.
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