SM
Cagliari vs. Juventus: 13 hrs 26 mins
Upcoming predictions and previews

Robbie Keane calls time on playing career

:Headline: Robbie Keane calls time on playing career: ID:342759: from db_amp
The former Tottenham striker has taken up a role under new Republic of Ireland manager Mick McCarthy.

Former Tottenham and Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane has announced his retirement as a player.

The 38-year-old captained his country for a decade and scored 325 goals in 737 appearances for 10 different clubs during a 23-year playing career.

"Today, after 23 wonderful years, I am formally announcing my retirement as a professional footballer," Keane said in a statement.

"From Crumlin United around the world to the likes of Milan, London and Los Angeles, I could never have imagined the path my football life would take. It has exceeded all the hopes I had as a football-mad boy growing up in Dublin."

Keane played for the likes of Wolves, Tottenham, Inter Milan, Leeds, Liverpool and LA Galaxy after arriving in England aged 15.

He is also the Republic's all-time leading scorer, netting 68 goals in 146 appearances before retiring from international football in 2016.

The Republic's new manager Mick McCarthy's appointed Keane as his assistant last week alongside Terry Connor following the recent departure of Martin O'Neill.

"Playing and captaining my country has been the highlight of my career," he said.

"I enjoyed every moment of the most incredible journey with the Ireland team over an 18-year period and as I have said many times before, words cannot express how proud I am to be Irish."

Keane arrived in England with Wolves in 1997 and moved on to Coventry for £6million after two seasons in the first team.

Robbie Keane, right, and Terry Connor, left, will assist new Republic of Ireland boss Mick McCarthy (Niall Carson/PA)

Further moves followed, to Inter Milan (£13m) and Leeds (£12m) before he spent six years at Tottenham.

"I had the great privilege to represent and captain Tottenham over 238 games. I had many wonderful times there and I will look back on my days at White Hart Lane with great fondness. The club will always hold a special place in my heart," he said.

Liverpool paid over £20m to sign Keane from Tottenham in 2008, but he returned to White Hart Lane six months later.

Following loan spells at Celtic and West Ham he moved his family to Los Angeles, where he spent "five hugely successful and rewarding years, both on and off the field, with LA Galaxy".

Keane added: "To all those who believed in me, supported me and picked me up when I needed a hand, you can never know how much that has all meant. It was an honour to represent you."

amp_article__342759 : Database Data restored...  : 
last updated article - 2018-11-28 16:00:59:
html db last update - 2021-03-06 19:38:40 :

ex - 7200 : read : read cache amp html

Click here for more stories about Robbie Keane

Click here for more stories about Liverpool

Share this article now:
Recommended Next on SM
Premier League Table
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416
Scroll for more - Tap for full version


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
AL
Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!

Loading ...

Failed to load data.



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .