Thank you: Robbie finally hangs up boots after getting coach role
IRELAND’S record goalscorer Robbie Keane has hung up his boots for good.
He announced his retirement from playing just days after accepting a coaching role with the international team.
Keane – who finished his Republic of Ireland career in September 2016 against Oman – had been without a club for a number of months but had not officially retired.
In a statement released yesterday, Keane said his career “has exceeded all the hopes I had as a football-mad boy growing up in Dublin”.
“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. I hope I have made the fans proud wearing the green jersey and armband,” he added.
Keane had successful stints at Tottenham Hotspur, Leeds United, Celtic and LA Galaxy amongst a host of other clubs.
Spurs was one of the first clubs to pay tribute to Keane, saying “thanks for the memories” with a video of some of his best moments during his time at White Hart Lane. Keane scored 68 international goals and 128 Premier League goals.
“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,” he said.
“Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”