Keane ready for final bow

DUBLIN: Retiring Ireland legend Robbie Keane says he would not have swapped a major club honour for his international career.

The LA Galaxy striker will play for his country for the last time in Wednesday night’s friendly with Oman at Lansdowne Road.

With 67 goals in 145 appearances, Keane is 15th on the alltime international goalscorers list, just one behind German legend Gerd Muller.

The 36-year-old Keane could overtake the man who won three European Cups with Bayern Munich in the 1970s, but he’d never change anything about his international career, that covered 18 years and three major finals.

Oman could become the 37th different country to be on the wrong side of a Keane strike, and he has history on his side with 42 of his 67 goals scored on home soil.

“I don’t care about Muller’s record or anyone, I’m chasing the next one because that’s what I’ve done since I was seven. I don’t know any different,” Keane said.

“I want to sign off with a goal. There is no way I’m going into this game half hearted.”

Over 18 years have passed since Keane made his Ireland debut against the Czech Republic as a raw 17-year-old striker at Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Since then he has played for nine clubs including Inter Milan, Leeds United, Tottenham, Liverpool, Celtic and Los Angeles Galaxy.

Keane is expecting an emotional night in front of a packed house in Dublin, for the game that comes just five days before the country’s World Cup 2018 qualification campaign opener in Serbia.

“It’s been my life since I was 17 years of age. Knowing on Thursday that it’s going to be the last time I’ve played for Ireland, waking up that morning is going to be very very strange for me. Even packing my bags for one last time was very weird, it’s the weirdest, strangest feeling I’ve ever had.”