AS HE HEADS into his final few days as an international footballer, an emotional Robbie Keane has spoken about the special feeling he gets every time he dons the green shirt.
The Ireland captain, who holds the record for most caps as well as being the country’s top goalscorer, will call time on an incredible career with the Boys in Green when they take on Oman in a friendly at the Aviva Stadium on Wednesday evening.
“It’s been an emotional week for me,” Keane said today at the FAI’s National Training Centre. “It’s a bit surreal to be honest. I’ve dreaded this day for a long, long time but the moment has come where I think it is the right time for me. I have mixed emotions about it. It has been an absolutely wonderful journey and I’ve enjoyed every minute of it.
“To the fans and everyone that has been supportive to me over the 18 years, it has been an incredible journey and it is something that I will never ever forget.”
36-year-old Keane, who plans to continue playing with LA Galaxy for several more years, has been widely-praised by ex-managers, former team-mates, the media and fans since making his announcement last Wednesday.
“The last week has been very positive from everybody in terms of the messages I’m getting from people that I played with — friends and family — and I haven’t really reflected on it,
“I’m not one of these people to reflect on things until it’s finished. Come Wednesday when that curtain finally closes, I’ll look back and say ‘you know what, you did okay Rob’.”
The Tallaght native has always felt overwhelming pride lining out for Ireland and went on to explain just how much it meant to him.
“I’ve read a lot of stuff about being confident and cocky and I think there is a fine line between both,” he added. “I was always a confident player but if I wasn’t a confident player and I didn’t have that brashness about me, I don’t think I would ever have scored 67 goals.
People misinterpreted cockiness and confidence. I was confident coming into the squad as I belonged here and that was from Day 1. Did I ever imagine that I would get 145 caps when I was growing up?
“When I was at Wolves, I remember people retiring at 32 years of age and I was thinking ‘if I get to that age then I’ll be delighted’. Here I am still playing at 36. It’s been an unbelievable career with the international team.
“I played for many teams and put many jerseys on, but the Irish one always seemed to fit me best. For me, it was a comfort blanket to come back with the national team. It’s been my second home and I’ve had a lot of emotions during my career. You have all been there and grown up with me.
“When my father died, it was very tough but three days later I was on a plane going to play a game. When my son was born, two hours later I left the hospital in LA to come back and play for Ireland.
“I think that suggests to you that Ireland was always a special place and it will continue to be that for a long time.”
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Always have and always will be a huge fan… When the begrudgers are long gone, he’ll be remembered as a true Irish Icon.
A true gentleman.
A true legend. Irelands best ever player. Did more for the Irish football team than anyone. Past or present
Legend !!!
Was 11, when he scored that beauty against Germany on 2002 !!
Great moment… When you look through the team sheets in the prem over this weekend, it really brings home what a gem he was.
You should be in bed
An absolute hero in an ireland jersey! Would show up wether we were playing a pub team or the world champions. I was doing my leaving cert english paper 2 when he scored that goal against germany. Thanks for the memories robbie, youll always be an irish legend :-)
Players like Drogba and Aguero, although he isn’t finished yet, have not made it into the Premiership’s top 20 goalscorers, but Keane is ranked 13th. Great goalscorer and an Irish legend.
I think come 9:45 on Wednesday even I, will struggle to keep my eyes dry. Thanks for everything!
A damning indictment of the club game and how its run. I mean in this day and age I don’t think it’s unreasonable to expect a nice fitted jersey. What are all these “kit men” doing?
Happy international retirement Robbie
You did more than ok Robbie. A lot more. You’ll be missed.
Who was the last man to box Muhammad Ali?
The undertaker
Those American sizes are a load of sh**e
Trivia question – what was Robbie Keane’s final match against?
(thinking) oh, man….
Correct!
Unfortunate for Ireland that it fit best. He made more blunders than anyone and probably cost us alot of games
i can only assume thats your actual photo because anyone with any memory ok Robbie keane will think different
Some people really should be allowed on the interweb
Others should not. Such as max power
Everyone is entitled to their own opinion I never rated Robbie he always walked around like a damn chicken
You are entitled to your own opinion but no one will listen as you don’t seem to know what your talking about
http://youtu.be/iSm5oubwP1g
never rated him? before he came along the highest scorer in Irish football was cascarino/stapelton with 21 goals. Go count Robbies and then come back to us.
WARNING it may take a while
Find me a new chicken with his goal ratio so and quick mutton head!
He’s had more clubs than Shane Lowry.
Boom boom
I thought he retired 10 years ago
Was that the last time you thought? Xx
He was paid more to wear the other jerseys though.
And he still picked ours as his favourite
Well done Robbie, now let’s move on.
Let’s move on? Keep yer knockers on he his night hasn’t even arrived yet ye tick
Ah ya. Sure Umbro are great. Nice and snug
A legend our Robbie, no one can take away what he did for Iteland.
Robbie you are a legend so proud of you.
The word Legend is use to often in football but in this case it’s a perfect description. Robbie always gave it his all in the Republic jersey I don’t think I will see another striker score the same goal tally as Robbie has so thanks for the memories and best of luck to him in the future maybe one day he will be picking the squad for games.
Our Best Ever Goal Scorer.!! Will he ever be replaced ? Or is there anyone coming through to replace him ? That is the Question.!!