Robbie Keane says the new-look coaching team will make sure there are smiles on faces at Rockliffe, warning: "We don't want energy-sappers ruining this great football club."

The new No.2 says he was sold by the vision of club chiefs and his close friend Jonathan Woodgate when he visited Rockliffe for dinner and informal talks last Tuesday.

Within 48 hours, he'd decided he wanted to join the club as assistant manager, while continuing his role as Mick McCarthy's deputy with the Republic of Ireland.

Keane and Woodgate share the same ideas when it comes to the way they want Boro to play next season. But they also agree on the importance of the players being happy.

"Our job as coaches, we want the players coming in and enjoying themselves," he told the club website.

"You'll certainly get that from us, there's no question about it. The positive energy on the training pitch and around the place.

"I think that's very important and I've always made that clear when I was a captain to the players. Woody obviously knows me for that.

"We want energy, energising people not energy-sappers ruining this great football club. It's not just the players, it's everybody around the club.

"The players will come in with a smile on their face but if it's not done properly they'll be told."

Boro's assistant head coach Robbie Keane

Keane was a prolific striker for club and country in his playing days and Woodgate talked in his unveiling last week about how the frontmen on the club's books will be relishing the opportunity of working with the former Tottenham and Liverpool man.

Keane will obviously work closely with the forward players but says there's much more to his coaching methods than that.

"Attacking football can start from the back, the midfield players," he says.

"And of course the strikers, ultimately they're goalscorers and they will be judged on scoring goals. Our job as a coaching staff, is to give them the best opportunity to be able to do that.

"It's up to the players ultimately to buy into to, to work their socks off for the opportunities to play in the team first, and when they do, that they take their chances.

"Woody has the same philosophy as me in how we like to play the game, and that's attacking, vibrant football.

"Woody and I have spoken about it, and it's not just going to be me working with the strikers. I can help the defenders in terms of the movements I made and playing against someone like myself, and vice versa with Woody and the forwards.

"It's about the whole team, the philosophy, and what we want to do."

Jonathan Woodgate and his coaching staff

Woodgate and Keane played together at Tottenham and Leeds and their friendship dates back 20 years.

They've kept in close contact in recent years and Woodgate identified the 38-year-old as the man he wanted as his No.2 when he presented his pitch for the Boro job following the departure of Tony Pulis.

"We've been friends for a long, long time," Keane said.

"So to work alongside him, to help him out is something I'm really excited about.

"The main thing is the trust we have with each other.

"There will be times where we'll disagree, he'll pick the team and I'll think maybe we could do this better.

 "I think you have to have that open relationship and we certainly have that."