Robbie Keane staunchly defends decision to stay working with ...

Robbie Keane has defended his decision to remain in charge of Israeli club Maccabi Tel-Aviv until the end of last season following the October 7 attacks.

The former Ireland star was highly criticised for taking on the job in the summer of 2023 and scrutiny heightened after the Gaza-Israel conflict began a few months later.

Israel’s military operation in the Palestinian territory has been ongoing for over a year, with the UN confirming in a report earlier this month that nearly 70% of deaths in Gaza across the opening six months were women and children.

Robbie Keane returned to the Ireland camp last week for a caps presentation. Pic: Ireland Football/X

Keane finished out last season with the Tel-Aviv side before stepping aside after claiming a league-and-cup double.

Appearing on the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the 44-year-old hit back at his critics and stated he had a ‘duty of care’ to remain in Israel.

‘When it did happen [war began] we left [the country] but I have five staff, I have a lot of foreign players who rely on me as their coach,’ he told the former Man United star.

Robbie Keane won a double in his one season in charge of Maccabi Tel-Aviv. Pic: Sebastian Widmann – UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images

‘My analyst for example, he has got a mortgage, a family and kids he has to feed. The decision just to step away from something, it’s not just my decision, it’s everybody else’s decision, which was tough.

‘Let’s make it clear, what is happening is terrible and nobody wants to see it. Hopefully it ends very, very soon but I’m a football manager and my staff have got people to look after. I have got a duty of care.

‘I had players calling me, “please don’t leave coach, don’t leave, what you have done for this club” so I made the decision to stay until the end of the season and walk away from a big contract, another year, possibly two more years.’

Robbie Keane spent a full season with Maccabi Tel-Aviva before stepping down. Pic: JACK GUEZ / AFP

‘But to go and win the double, nobody can ever take that away from me.’

Keane faced criticism from Irish supporters last week when he returned to the Ireland camp to take part in the annual caps ceremony.

Support for the Palestinian cause through Irish football remains strong, with Derry City fans recently unveiling a large ‘Free Palestine’ display during the second half of the Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup final against Drogheda United.