Robbie Keane among names recruited by Sam Allardyce

Leeds United’s firefighting mission is officially underway after they appointed Sam Allardyce to save their sinking season.

Sam Allardyce’s relegation record suggests that he could do just that. However, a tough run of fixtures means all bets are off. Allardyce has made some changes to his general staff. Having invited a former Premier League legend, this is what Leeds United coaching staff looks like now-

Robbie Keane 

Since hanging up his boots as Republic of Ireland’s record goalscorer and appearance maker, Robbie Keane has been keen to learn the art of management.

With a tremendous record of 80 goals in 197 games for Tottenham, and then a career renaissance with 83 goals in 125 games for LA Galaxy, Robbie Keane at Leeds brings a bucketload of experience and attacking nous with him.

This is his first time working with Sam Allardyce, and also his first time working as a coach at a Premier League club. He was formerly an assistant coach for the Republic of Ireland’s national team. His only prior head coaching job was a player-manager gig in Indian Super League, at Atletico de Kolkata. It lasted for three games.

With Sam Allardyce taking care of the leaky defence, he will hope that Robbie Keane works with the strikers. Keane is an astute addition to the Leeds United coaching staff and a professional of his pedigree should instantly command respect in the dressing room.

Karl Robinson

If Robbie Keane was a maverick player who was taking his first steps in coaching, Karl Robinson is the polar opposite.

Robinson has 13 years of head-coach experience, overachieving with lower-league sides like MK Dons and Oxford United.

He has prior experience working with Sam Allardyce as well. He was a coach at Blackburn Rovers when Sam Allardyce was working miracles with the club.

His addition to the Leeds United coaching staff will bring some much-needed tactical know-how to the club. Moreover, his experience of working with professionals in danger of relegation will be invaluable as “The Peacocks” seek to avoid the drop.

Interestingly, Robinson has once before rejected the chance to become Leeds United head coach. He was offered the job in 2016 by then-President Massimo Cellino but turned it down in a show of loyalty to MK Dons.