Robbie Keane leaving Hungarian side Ferencváros, local media reports
Kenneth Fox
Robbie Keane has quit as the head coach of Ferencváros after 18 months, according to Hungarian media.
As the Irish Examiner reports, Keane took over the Hungarian champions in January 2025, overseeing their successful title defence, but in his first full season at the helm was unable to prevent Gyor denying the dominant Budapest force their eighth successive crown and a double.
Slovan Bratislava had already declared its interest in luring the 45-year-old, but suitors closer to home, such as one of his former clubs, Celtic, and Crystal Palace, also have the Dubliner in mind as a possible recruit.
Ireland’s record goalscorer began his managerial career by leading Maccabi Tel Aviv to the Israeli title in 2023, a controversial term given the country’s military onslaught on the Palestinian population.
Trophies and progress through UEFA’s competitions were replicated when he moved to Hungary, but the ex-Tottenham Hotspur striker expressed his disappointment with the outcome of the latest campaign for Fradi.
Asked if he was happy with the season, he replied: “I am not. With the Europa League and the cup victory, yes, but of course, we wanted to win the championship as well.
“That is my mentality, this winning mentality, that I always want more and more.
“I think that anyone who does not think like this as a coach or a player has no place in football.”
Keane was not afraid to criticise the Hungarian football authorities for introducing a rule that restricted the number of foreign players in the matchday squad at any one time.
