Playing for Ireland was his Champions League

FIVE years ago, a Bleacher Report listed the world’s top 50 footballers from 1998 to 2011, the prime career years for Robbie Keane. There were 24 forwards listed among the half century, but Keane wasn’t one of them.

In many ways, it was understandable. The Tallaght striker never won the Premier League or FA Cup during his time in England, and barely scratched the surface of the Champions League.

He also had a brief stint in Inter Milan which was financially rewarding, if without medals.

If, however, the title of the survey had been changed slightly, to read the ‘world’s top 50 international footballers,’ things might have been different.

Here, Keane stole a march on many of his rivals, in terms of appearances, goals and his importance to his country.

For Keane, playing for Ireland has always been his Champions League.

And on that stage, he left an imprint deeper than the likes of Alan Shearer, Pippo Inzaghi, Ruud Van Nistelrooy and Franceso Totti, who all made the Bleacher top 50.

Did that quartet contribute more for their country than Keane? No. None of them won more than 70 caps, or scored more than 35 goals. Totti managed just nine for Italy.

Arguably, Keane’s value to Ireland was as high as any player who has donned the green jersey.

In 30 years covering Republic of Ireland games, there have been a handful of truly gifted players, chiefly Liam Brady, Paul McGrath, Ronnie Whelan and Damien Duff.

If Roy Keane wasn’t blessed with natural talent, he had a will of iron and lifted those around him.

In addition to that Famous Five can be added Robbie Keane who came, saw, stayed and scored.

For an outfield player, to cross the white line for over 18 years is an impressive innings and few can match Keane’s longevity.

John Giles made his Ireland debut at 18 and retired at 38 yet missed out on almost as many as the 59 games he actually played.

Brady’s 16-year stint was cut short by Jack Charlton before the 1990 World Cup, while Niall Quinn survived knee and back problems to bridge the ’86 Reykjavik Tournament and the 2002 World Cup finals.

Dave O’Leary totted up 17 years but missed two-and-a-half years at his peak.

None could match Reliant Robbie for longevity of service. As for his goals, the Dubliner was in a league of his own.

Without Keane’s plundering there would have been no World Cup odyssey in 2002, no play-off against France in 2009, no Nations Cup in 2011 and no Euro 2012 either.

In an Irish team which has traditionally lacked an out and out marksman, Keane’s goals carried the highest currency.

Keane, like Brady before him, never missed a game, friendly or competitive, unless injured, which he rarely was. Club contracts were agreed on condition he was released for internationals and whether that meant a short hop from London, or a long haul trek from Los Angeles, he turned up with a smile and a selfconfident swagger - it will be the same at Abbotstown in training tomorrow.

There was much fanfare over the retirement of rugby legend Brian O’Driscoll but when it came to answering Ireland’s football call, no one responded with a greater urgency than Robbie Keane, no one delivered more.