Former Tottenham Hotspur and Republic of Ireland striker, Robbie Keane has announced his retirement from football as a player.
The 38 year old captained his country for more than 10 years, scoring 325 goals in 737 appearances for 10 different club for a football playing career spanning 23 years.
Keane said in a statement, “Today, after 23 wonderful years, I am formally announcing my retirement as a professional footballer. 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 hopes I had as a football-mad boy growing in Dublin”.
Robbie Keane played for the likes of Wolves, Tottenham, Inter Milan, Leeds, Liverpool and LA Galaxy since arriving England aged just 15.
He also serves as Ireland’s all-time leading goal scorer with 68 goals in 146 appearances before retiring from international duty two years ago in 2016.
Ireland’s new head coach decided to appoint Keane as his assistant last week alongside Terry Connor following the recent departure of Martin O’Neill.
Keane said, “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”.
The all-time Ireland leading goal scorer had been enhancing his footballing education applying for UEFA coaching badges while still in LA, so it doesn’t come as a surprise seeing the former football player prolong his career by teaming up with manager Mick McCarthy, the man who coached Keane when he scored his most famous goal during the 2002 World Cup.
Robbie Keane will now be looking to settle quickly as the new assistant manager of Republic of Ireland and partner with Mick McCarthy to bring glory to the country.