The in-betweeners
With Robbie playing in India and Robbie Jr in school here, a halfway house makes sense for Claudine... in Dubai
CLAUDINE KEANE and her footballer husband Robbie plan to maintain a base in sunny Dubai when Robbie togs out for his new team in India next month.
And their young son Robert, who made his first Communion this year, will be staying in his school in Dublin, The Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.
The Indian season runs only from early October until mid-December, leaving the option open for Keane to join a club in England during the January transfer window.
Sources have told the MoS the couple will keep a base in Dubai as it is only a few hours from India. There are also regular flights from Dubai to Dublin.
‘They will have a place in Dubai and travel between the three places. It’s only a short flight to India and Dublin so they can travel quite easily,’ said a source.
Robert, who is enrolled at a school in Malahide, where the couple live, won’t be uprooted from his classmates and education. His two-year-old brother Hudson will stay with Claudine, who has previously spoken of her love for the Dublin seaside village community.
However, relocating has long been part of the Keane family life as Robbie has signed for 11 clubs in his career. They previously lived in Britain and Los Angeles but they’ve always maintained a Dublin home.
Claudine is also a huge fan of Dubai and has just returned from a holiday there. Its restaurants, shops and guaranteed sun have helped it become a popular destination with a large Irish expat community based there.
Robbie’s signing for Indian Super League side Atletico de Kolkata was announced recently. He’ll be joining former teammate Teddy Sheringham, who manages the side which was founded three years ago along with the Indian Super League.
Robbie, 37, is the first foreign player to join the team and his signing was cause for great excitement in India and at home.
He has signed a one-season deal and said: ‘I feel extremely fortunate to have played for some of the best clubs in England and the USA, as well as representing my country at several major tournaments. At this stage of my career, the offer to experience a new league and culture in Asia appealed to me.’
He added that he hoped ‘to bring the ATK fans more success and enjoyment’.