Shane Griffin has signed for Cobh Ramblers for the 2025 season.

Cobh Ramblers FC are delighted to announce the signing of former Shelbourne defender Shane Griffin for the 2025 League of Ireland season.

The 30 year-old joins Ramblers after three years with Shelbourne, where he helped the Dublin side win the League of Ireland Premier Division title last season. 

He spent time at St Pat's and Cork City prior to this, winning FAI Cup medals at both. 

The Carrigaline native also spent time with Reading FC in England and has been capped by the Republic of Ireland up to U21 level.

Shane had this to say following the announcement.

"I’m delighted to be signing for the club. When I spoke with the manager he told me of the plans to progress the club and that’s something that I’m looking forward to being a part of. 

"My aim is to contribute on the pitch and be successful, and also to help the young talented players within the group."

Manager Michael McDermott also gave his thoughts on our latest arrival.

“We have been working on this deal for quite some time.

"Shane is a player that has enjoyed a highly successful career at the highest levels and I was keen to get this quality into our club. 

"He is a winner, he is a leader and he will bring vast experience to our team.” 

Shane joins fellow new arrivals, Cian Bargary, John O'Donovan, Jack Doherty, Shane Griffin (ex-Waterford & Bray), Niall O’Keeffe and Cian Murphy, Michael McCarthy, James O'Leary, Tiernan O'Brien, Darragh Burke, Jason Abbott and Brendeán Frahill as confirmed members of our 2025 first team squad.

Meanwhile, Robbie Keane is back in management, appointed to lead Hungarian giants Ferencváros.

Ireland’s record goalscorer enjoyed a successful but controversial introduction his standalone managerial career when taking charge of Maccabi Tel Aviv.

He remained with the Israel club despite the escalation of conflict with Palestine in October 2023, eventually quitting in the summer after reclaiming the domestic title for the club.

Ferencváros, currently second in the Hungarian league, had shortlisted Keane for their vacancy then but opted for Pascal Jansen. The Dutchman’s recent departure for New York City – part of Manchester City’s parent company - reactivated their interest in the 44-year-old and he arrived in Budapest on Sunday night to complete negotiations.

His former Ireland teammate Rory Delap will once again be part of his coaching staff.

“We announce the successor to Dutchman Pascal Jansen to lead our 35-time champion and 24-time cup winner team, as the 146-time national team player of the Republic of Ireland Robbie Keane,” read a Ferencváros statement.

Keane will head straight to Murcia where his new team are undergoing a warm-weather training camp during a brief winter break. They have friendlies on Friday and next Wednesday.

As well as maintaining their title hunt, the team are involved in a Europa League campaign. That resumes on January 23 away to Eintracht Frankfurt before the complete the league phase by hosting AZ Alkmaar, the Dutch side whose attack is spearheaded by Troy Parrott. The young striker was compared with Keane when emerging through the ranks at his former club Tottenham. Parrott was handed his senior Ireland debut in 2019 when Keane was Mick McCarthy’s assistant.

Ferencváros are currently situated 16th of 36 teams in the new Europa League table format, guaranteed a playoff but seeking points to smooth their progression to the knockout stages automatically.