Robbie Keane could undertake player-manager role at ATK

Former Republic of Ireland captain Robbie Keane could be set for his first foray into management after his manager Teddy Sheringham was sacked by the Indian Super League (ISL) side last month.

Keane signed for the club in August of last year as their new marquee player but has struggled for fitness with just two goals in six games. Following the dismissal of Sheringham last month, director of football Ashley Westwood was named as the interim manager. However, under ISL rules, Westwood would only be able to fulfill the role for only three matches, and if ATK wanted to extend his stay as manager he would require a 'marquee coach' status from the ISL, and for that, he would have needed to have managed at a top-division club in his own country, or perform the role of a head coach of any international football team. According to Sportskeeda, an Indian based sports site, the Kolkata club are considering naming Robbie Keane as player-manager given that they only have five matches left in their season and have slim chances of making the ISL play-offs. Keane obtained his UEFA A license in 2016 which allows holders to be head coaches of youth teams up to age 18, reserve teams (also known as 'B' teams) for first division clubs, and men's professional second-tier clubs. "We are trying to get things done with as little changes possible. At any rate, the team's performance has been poor, so we are trying to control the damage," a club official told Sportskeeda.