Robbie Keane Tribute
So next week as people file away from the Aviva Stadium in the immediate aftermath of Ireland’s Friendly with Oman , the International career of arguably Ireland’s greatest striker will come to a close with 146 caps to his name , he is of course Ireland record goal scorer with 67 goals to date.
He has had a wide variety of clubs during his career, beginning with Crumlin United then moving onto Wolves, Coventry City, Inter Milan, Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, and Celtic with loan spells at West Ham and Aston Villa included while on a mid-season break from his last club on his nomadic journey LA Galaxy. He has been joined by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard in the last couple of years while David Beckham was around when he first joined LA Galaxy in 2011.
He may have had a nomadic journey in club football but his strike rate at each club is very impressive and can’t be sneezed at. He may not have spent long at certain clubs but he seems to have found his niche at both Spurs and more recently in LA Galaxy.
With Ireland of course , he has had his greatest success with 145 caps to date and 67 goals scoring some crucial goals against Iran enroute to Japan and South Korea for the 2002 World Cup. He scored a famous goal against Germany to draw Ireland level in a Group game.
He along with Brazil’s Ronaldo were the only two men to score against German Keeper Oliver Kahn at that World Cup. To a lesser extent he also scored a goal vs Saudi Arabia in the 3-0 win and he scored Ireland’s second penalty in normal time vs Spain after Ian Harte has his opening effort saved.
In recent years he has captained his country at Euro 2012 and Euro 2016 in France. He hasn’t always been everybody’s cup of tea but he has always given his best for Ireland and 67 International goals says he has always taken the chances that have been presented.
It’s time now for Robbie to exit the International stage that he has graced for the past 18 years after next Wednesday’s game with Oman. It is also time now for other strikers to step up to the mark and take up the baton that Robbie will leave down next week.
Thanks for all the wonderful memories Robbie and enjoy your retirement……
By
Cian Mc Gibney
25/08/2016