Tottenham legend wins first league title of his managerial career in Israel in his debut season at Maccabi Tel-Aviv

A Tottenham legend has won the Israeli league in a turbulent first season at Maccabi Tel-Aviv. 

The triumph ends three years of dominance for their rivals, Maccabi Haifa, and ensures they will 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 to go. 

The manager in question is Robbie Keane, who was appointed at the decorated Israeli club last June alongside trusty assistant Rory Delap.  

In a historic season, he has steered them to the last 16 of the Europa Conference League, the furthest stage they have ever reached in Europe.

They face a slog from the second qualifying round of the Champions League to try and better that in 2024-25.

Keane had to flee Israel in October and evacuated via Greece in October, according to The Athletic. 

Tel-Aviv was one of the cities which was hit with rocket attacks that month as part of the ongoing war between Israel and Hamas. 

No games were played in the Israeli league in October and November.  

Keane has faced criticism for his decision to manage in Israel and for his silence on the war, but he has enhanced his managerial reputation with a first league title.

His only other top job was three games in charge of Indian outfit ATK in 2018, where he won two of three games in charge as player-manager. 

He has also been the assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland and Leeds during their doomed four games 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-placed finish last season. 

He had a winning feeling during his first stint at Spurs, helping them to lift the 2007-08 EFL Cup. 

As a striker he bagged 122 goals in 306 games across two spells at the club, also captaining them.