Robbie Keane lands silverware as Maccabi Tel Aviv secure cup success

Robbie Keane has landed his first silverware as manager after his Maccabi Tel Aviv defeated arch-rivals Maccabi Haifa on penalties in the Toto Cup final, the secondary cup competition in Israeli football after the State Cup.

In front of 13,800 fans in the Netanya Stadium, neither side could find a breakthrough over 90 minutes.

Tel Aviv scored their opening three penalties, in contrast to their opponents failing to score from their first two spot-kicks, and it was left to Dutch defender Derrick Luckassen to seal a 4-2 shootout win.

Seven months into Keane's reign, Tel Aviv have picked up domestic cup silverware, lead the Ligat ha'Al, the Israeli Premier League, and are in the last-16 of the Europa Conference League. On Sunday they take on Hapoel Hadera in the Israeli Super Cup.

Having been part of backroom teams at Middlesbrough and, most recently, Leeds United, Keane was an assistant coach during Mick McCarthy's second stint in charge of the Republic of Ireland before landing the post in Israel last summer.

The 43-year-old, who replied he didn’t want to get into politics when asked about criticism that has come in Ireland around his decision to take on the role, has now overseen 23 wins in his 31 games in charge.

Footballing matters took a backseat in October following the Hamas attack and subsequent war in Palestine, with Maccabi not playing any games for more than a month, with all foreign staff and players evacuated as a precaution.

Keane, along with former Republic of Ireland international Rory Delap in his backroom team, needed to use safe rooms on two occasions before they left the country.

When sport resumed, the club continued their winning ways, with victory over Gent in December guaranteeing their progress to the