Ferencvaros fans can expect an 'exciting game'

After his appointment as the new Ferencvaros manager, Robbie Keane is promising fans of the Budapest club that his team will play exciting football.

The Republic of Ireland's all-time leading goalscorer was in charge at Maccabi Tel Aviv for 18 months until he left the role last June.

Keane will be joined in Budapest by assistant coach and fellow former Ireland international Rory Delap, and analyst Phil Hudson.

He inherits a side that are currently second in Hungary's top flight, with games upcoming against Eintracht Frankfurt and AZ Alkmaar in the Europa League.

Looking ahead to the next challenge in his coaching career, Keane had an upbeat message for the Ferencvaros support when he spoke on the club's media channel.

"I want the fans to enjoy the game of my team, the exciting and energetic football," he said.

"We know we're a good team, but what does a good team mean, can you go out and excite the fans?

"It's important for the players to understand that it's not enough to win one or two games, you have to win them all. That's my message to the players.

"Whoever the opponent is, we want to play an exciting game."

Keane also revealed that advice from Alex Ferguson influenced his decision to take the post in the Hungarian capital.

"I’ve been to Budapest two or three times in the last few years, a beautiful place. But the reason why I’m here is the football.

"The most important thing about a football club is the people. Alex Ferguson told me last summer, 'don’t pick the club, pick the people’ and I think that’s important."

📣 Announcement: Robbie Keane is the new head coach of Ferencváros.💚🤍 pic.twitter.com/dwr11oGpqY — Ferencvárosi TC (@Fradi_HU) January 6, 2025

While news of Keane's appointment may have surprised some, RTÉ soccer analyst Paul Corry sees it as a "brilliant opportunity" for Keane to develop more as a manger.

Speaking on RTÉ Radio's Morning Ireland, he said: "It's a very interesting move and Robbie has continued to go down a very different path to others who have played the game and have dropped into the lower leagues of UK football.

"Ferencvaros are the most successful team within Hungary and are going very well in the league and the Europa League. This is not a fractured club that Robbie Keane is heading into where he needs to resurrect the squad, he is just continuing the good work of Pascal Jansen who was there previously.

"It's a brilliant opportunity and you feel if it's one where it does go well for him it will open doors in the future to maybe bigger and better things. From his successful job in Maccabi where he did extremely well, this is the next jump to the next rung on the ladder and I'm sure it's one that he and his number two Rory Delap will be itching to get started with."

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