Tottenham legend wins first league title of his managerial career in Israel in his debut season at Maccabi Tel-Aviv
- A Tottenham icon has led Maccabi Tel-Aviv to their first league title since 2020
- He also gave the club their deepest European run in a turbulent season
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A Tottenham legend has won the Israeli league in a turbulent first season with Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
The triumph ends three years of dominance by their rivals, Maccabi Haifa, and ensures they can play Champions League football next season.
A 3-0 win over Hapoel Beer-Sheva sealed the glory, leaving Maccabi Tel-Aviv eight points ahead of their bitter rivals with two games remaining.
The manager in question is Robbie Keane, who was appointed to the decorated Israeli club last June alongside loyal assistant Rory Delap.
In an historic season he has taken them to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League, the furthest stage they have ever reached in Europe.
Robbie Keane has won the Israeli league title in his first season as manager of Maccabi Tel-Aviv
The Irishman also guided the club to the last sixteen of the Europa Conference League, the deepest point ever in Europe
They will have to deal with problems from the second qualifying round of the Champions League to try to improve that in 2024/2025.
Keane had to flee Israel in October and was evacuated via Greece in October The Athletics.
Tel-Aviv was among the cities hit by rocket attacks that month as part of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
No matches were played in the Israeli league in October and November.
Keane has been criticized for his decision to take charge in Israel and for his silence on the war, but he has improved his managerial reputation with a first league title.
His only other top job was a three-match stint in charge of Indian side ATK in 2018, where he won two of three games as player-manager.
He was also assistant manager of Ireland and Leeds during their four doomed games under Sam Allardyce, which ended in relegation last season.
Keane has guided his team to 24 wins, seven draws and three defeats in the league so far, rejuvenating the club after a disappointing third-place finish last season.
Keane (right) played 306 times for Spurs, won the EFL Cup, scored 122 goals and was captain
He had a winning touch during his first spell at Spurs, helping them win the 2007–08 EFL Cup.
As a striker, he scored 122 goals in 306 games over two spells at the club, and was also captain.