- A Tottenham icon has led Maccabi Tel-Aviv to their first league title since 2020
- It also gave the club its deepest European run in a turbulent season.
- IAN LADYMAN: If I were a Spurs fan, I’d be worried about the way Ange Postecoglou behaves. Listen It’s all starting! podcast
A Tottenham legend won the Israeli league in a turbulent first season at Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
The win ends three years of dominance by rival Maccabi Haifa and guarantees they will play in the Champions League next season.
A 3-0 victory over Hapoel Beer-Sheva sealed glory, leaving Maccabi Tel-Aviv eight points ahead of their bitter rivals with two games remaining.
The coach in question is Robbie Keane, who was appointed to the decorated Israeli club last June alongside his loyal assistant Rory Delap.
In a historic season, he has taken them to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League, the most advanced stage they have ever reached in Europe.
Robbie Keane won the Israeli league title in his first season managing Maccabi Tel-Aviv
The Irishman also took the club to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League, the deepest they have been in Europe
They face hard work from the second qualifying round of the Champions League to try to improve on that in 2024-25.
Keane had to flee Israel in October and was evacuated through Greece in October, according to The Athletic.
Tel Aviv was one of the cities that came under rocket attack that month as part of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas.
No Israeli league games were played in October and November.
Keane has faced criticism for his decision to coach in Israel and for his silence on the war, but has enhanced his reputation as a manager with a first league title.
His only other notable position was three matches in charge of the Indian team ATK in 2018, where he won two of the three matches in charge as player-coach.
He has also been assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland and Leeds during their four doomed matches under Sam Allardyce, which ended in relegation last season.
Keane has led his team to 24 wins, seven draws and three losses 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 their captain.
He had a feeling of victory during his first spell with Spurs, helping them lift the 2007-08 EFL Cup.
As a striker, he scored 122 goals in 306 games in two spells at the club, and was also its captain.