Former Rangers and Sunderland boss Michael Beale has emerged as a shock contender to replace ex-Celtic striker Robbie Keane in Israel with Maccabi Tel Aviv looking to appoint a new manager.
Republic of Ireland hero Keane quit his post in the Middle East with the region currently enduring major security problems due to the ongoing Israeli-Palestine conflict. The Scottish Sun claim Beale is one of the leading names in the frame to land the position after London agency CAA Base put the Englishman’s name forward for the job.
Talks are planned to take place between club officials and Beale, who has been searching for his next managerial gig since his ill-fated Stint at the Stadium of Light towards the end of last season.
It’s understood that Beale is open to offers but it’s expected that he would need a lot of convincing to relocate there at the moment. The 43-year-old is yet to become a success story as a manager, having previously served as assistant to Steven Gerrard during his first spell in Glasgow.
Keane – who had a six-month loan spell at Parkhead in 2010 where he scored 12 times in 16 games – successfully guided Maccabi to the top-flight title and reached the last-16 of the Europa Conference League, despite facing a backlash of criticism for taking the job a year ago. Upon leaving his head coach role,
Keane said: “I want to thank the owners, all the players, the coaches, and the fans for making this season unforgettable. I am very proud of everything we achieved together as a team and especially proud of the hard work and the dedication that led to winning the championship and the Toto Cup. I wish everyone involved in the club the best of luck in the Champions League and the upcoming season.”
The striker, formerly of Inter Milan, Liverpool, Spurs and LA Galaxy, played in last weekend’s Soccer Air match for the World XI against England at Stamford Bridge, just a few days after his exit.
