Sam Allardyce has been announced as the new Leeds United manager today and he will be joined at Elland Road by Robbie Keane of all people.
Alongside former Oxford United manager Karl Robinson, Keane will assist Allardyce in his attempts to stave off relegation for the Yorkshire club according to The Times.
Keane, of course, played for Leeds for just over 18 months before being sold to Tottenham for £7 million pounds in August 2002 when the extent of Peter Ridsdale’s financial mismanagement of the club became apparent.
He now returns as the club faces another crisis, with relegation back to the Championship on the cards just two years after Leeds climbed out of the mess their former chairman put them in all those years ago.
The Republic of Ireland legend and all-time top scorer has not been in the dugout in any capacity since his assistant role with the national team was cut short upon Stephen Kenny’s ascension from the Under-21s. Previously, he assisted another former Leeds player, Jonathan Woodgate, at Middlesborough.
Keane and Allardyce joining forces for the very first time might come as somewhat of a surprise to some given the pair’s penchant for a move in their career, and comes at a time when it is obvious Leeds are throwing everything they can possibly can at survival.
It only adds weight to the argument that this might be the craziest season in Premier League history. A Great Escape from Big Sam and Robbie would surely seal it.