Keane helping out in Rovers’ pre-season preparation
ROBBIE Keane has been coaching with his hometown club Shamrock Rovers in recent weeks.
Pictured in the dugout for the Hoops in their pre-season friendly against Cork City, the former Republic of Ireland striker’s presence at Tallaght Stadium has sparked some talk regarding the possibility of this eventually becoming a permanent role.
Robbie Keane has been helping out with pre-season preparation at Shamrock Rovers
Still the Tallaght man is not expected to take up an official position with the reigning Airtricity League champions, not least because he is still on the payroll with the FAI.
Nevertheless he was there to help oversee a 2-1 defeat of the Leesiders in which Rory Gaffney and Sean Hoare found the back of the net for the home side.
No doubt Keane will relish the opportunity to be coaching again after having endured a disappointing period last year when it was revealed that he would not to be part of Stephen Kenny’s Ireland backroom team.
Following that blow, Keane stepped down from his post as assistant coach at Middlesbrough following the sacking of manager Jonathan Woodgate.
Certainly having a former international the calibre of Keane in the training set-up, if only temporarily, is a major boost for the Rovers players who will ignite their Premier Division title defence against St Patrick’s Athletic on March 19.
FAI Cup holders Dundalk will provide their opposition the week before in the President’s Cup Final.
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