Robbie Keane Tactics at Ferencvárosi TC 2025/2026: Is He The Right Fit For Celtic 2026/2027? – Tactical Analysis
Robbie Keane's former team, Celtic, secured a 56th league title in the most dramatic of circumstances last month, beating Hearts in what was essentially a play-off game (Celtic had to win the game, whilst Hearts only needed a draw to win the Scottish Premiership title).
Yet, it was a title that papered over so many cracks for the Hoops, a season in which they had four managers.
The season started off with Brendan Rodgers, who lasted until the end of October.
Then, 73-year-old club legend Martin O'Neill stepped in to take over the club he had won three leagues with in the early naughties.
There was then the disastrous 33-day reign of Frenchman Wilfried Nancy, before O'Neill returned to save the day.
Celtic are currently a club with a fragmented fanbase, there are routine protests against the board.
They feel like their club lacks direction, and the 2025/2026 season needs to be a wake-up call for a side that have more resources than anyone else in the country.
Up step Robbie Keane.
The former Tottenham Hotspur (and too many other clubs to list) striker has been heavily linked with returning to Parkhead, this time in the dugout.
He started his coaching career in the Indian Super League with ATK, where he began as player-coach.
He then spent spells at the Republic of Ireland, Middlesbrough and Leeds United as an assistant manager, before stepping into the hot seat for the 2023/2024 season, joining Israeli side Maccabi Tel-Aviv.
He spent just one season there, dealing with criticism of the position back in his native Ireland, where his family still lived.
On the pitch, he managed 53 games for the club, winning 38 and losing just six games.
He won the league with two games to spare and took Maccabi to the Round of 16 of the UEFA Conference League, losing 7-5 on aggregate to Olympiacos, who went on to win the competition that season.
In January 2025, he joined Hungary's biggest and most successful club, Ferencvárosi TC.
He lasted 18 months with the Budapest side before deciding not to renew with Fradi.
This tactical analysis will focus on Keane's time coaching Hungarian football, examining how he set up his side both in and out of possession, as well as any applicable comparisons if he takes the Celtic job.
Robbie Keane Tactics On The Ball With Ferencvárosi
As the most dominant team in Scottish football, Celtic will be looking for someone who plays an exciting and attacking brand of football.
Fans in Glasgow fell in love with Ange Postecoglou's brand of all-out attacking football.
Ferencvárosi, like Celtic, have far more resources than the teams they come up against on a weekly basis in the league.
There's a gap in player quality that allows an element of freedom in how they attack.
Keane adapted when he made the jump to Hungary, switching to being an almost exclusively three-at-the-back coach after playing with a 4-3-3 in Israel.
He set his side up in a 3-5-2.
Ferencvárosi had something of a contrasting 2025/2026 season.
They were impressive in Europe, reaching the UEFA Europa League Round of 16, yet they didn't win the league title: something that is unacceptable in the Hungarian capital.
In the league, the talent gap allows them to play with more freedom.
They created an average of 2.03 expected goals per game, were the top scorers in the league with 67 goals, and had the best goal difference in the entire division.
Their average possession was 54% (for context, Celtic's was 60%), hinting that they may not have been as dominant as they could have been.
Above is an average position map, from SofaScore, for their final league game.
This was a 3-0 win over ZTE that gives us an indication of the shape with which they play.
The wing-backs (#77 - Barnabás Nagy; #20 - Cadu) push extremely high.
The back holds a solid line, and a midfield pivot is formed.
They then have a five-man attacking unit, with the wing-backs on either side of a front two and a midfielder that's pushing up.
While they were top scorers in the league, there was frustration with them in possession.
At times, they were too passive and slow on the ball, unable to finish off mid-table sides.
In Europe, Keane received massive plaudits.
They kept the same shape but were much more structured, with their average possession dropping to 45%.
There was much more of an emphasis on attacking transitions, playing vertical passes through the lines to catch their opposition out of their defensive structure.
In a game against Rangers at home, they utilised this well (despite having more of the ball that night).
Early on, they establish their defensive shape and turn the ball over.
Ibrahim Cissé, a central defender, quickly gives it inside to Alex Tóth.
There are then four (and a fifth joining) vertical runners.
Tóth takes one touch before immediately moving the ball forward and trying to catch Rangers out of their shape.
Cissé continues his run all the way into the opposite box, and the ball goes for a corner.
It's an example of how quickly Keane's side looked to get forward in Europe, differentiating from the league, where they faced lower blocks and often struggled to gain any proper momentum.
Robbie Keane Tactics Out Of Possession With Ferencvárosi
As already touched on, Keane played almost exclusively with a three at the back for the bulk of his time in Hungary.
The wing-backs would push further forward in attack, but expected to drop back in to a back five alongside the three central defenders without the ball.
One of their best results this season was a 2-0 win against SC Braga in the Europa League Round of 16.
