IRELAND CAPTAIN ROBBIE Keane may be sidelined through injury but his witty mind was as sharp as ever in a light-hearted interview with Sky Sports’ Soccer AM this morning.
The LA Galaxy striker also revealed that he is planning to have a crack at football management when he hangs up his boots despite initially having reservations about making such a career move.
Keane told Soccer AM’s Tubes, in an interview featuring a couple of cameos from livewire kitman Dick Redmond, that he has already talked to Ireland boss Martin O’Neill about his options now that he has secured his coaching badges.
“I think it’s probably a natural progression for me,” Keane, who missed last night’s win against Switzerland with a knee injury, that has also ruled him out of Tuesday’s friendly against Slovakia, said.
“I’ve done my B and A licence. I’ve finished that so it’s genuinely something that I’ve become very interested in.
When I was thinking about doing my coaching badges I was thinking, ‘I wonder will I like this or not’. But once I started doing them I really, really enjoyed it.
“And now, as the years are going by, I’m watching training, if I’m injured for example, I’m watching it differently than I would have four or five years ago. And watching games differently.
“I’m kind of looking at games now as if I was the manager, to see what I would do differently; who I’d change.
“I spoke to our manager today about it. He asked me, Martin O’Neill, so I just had a good conversation with him about it. You know, going forward, he was asking me what I’d like to do.”
The 35-year-old will this summer likely play in his third major tournament for Ireland, after the 2002 World Cup and Euro 2012, and he his delighted for the fans as much as himself.
“If you’ve seen over the years, ’88 with Ireland, the ’94 World Cup, 2002 Japan and Korea (World Cup); those moments, for the Irish fans are historical. I think it’s probably fair to say that every major tournament needs the Irish fans there.”
With 143 caps to his name since making his international debut 18 years and one day ago, Keane knows how monotonous spending time in hotels can be as players wait for the games to come around.
But with an iPad to keep him amused, he can overcome the boredom even if he finds himself rooming with fellow veteran Shay Given, he quipped.
“The iPad (is essential). In a hotel room for four weeks, especially if I’m in the room with Shay Given, four weeks is at least two years.
“The good thing about Shay is that if I’m tired he can tell me a few of his stories from his Newcastle days with Alan Shearer and stuff like that, so it will get me off to sleep pretty quickly.
“So he’s pretty dull then?” Keane was asked.
“He’s a good lad when he’s asleep,” he quipped.
Keane, as he heads towards his 36th birthday in July, now reserves his trademark cartwheel celebration for special occasions. And Irish fans can expect to see it if the Dubliner finds the net in France.
“For massive goals, important goals, I’ll do it. If I score in the Euros I’ll definitely do the cartwheel, I just hope I don’t get stuck up there.”
Remarkable
Keane will likely bring his decorated Ireland career to a halt after the finals this summer, a remarkable spell that has already yielded 67 goals for the Boys in Green, obliterating Niall Quinn’s previous record of 21.
He has also captained Ireland more than anyone else, an astonishing 72 times to date.
But it is the goal-scoring record that the former Tottenham star will cherish the most when he has time to reflect on his international career.
“It’s difficult when you’re still playing the game (to reflect on what you’ve achieved) because you’re always looking for the next goal, always looking for the next cap.
“That’s just the way I am, I think I’ll look back when I’m finished with Ireland.
“A lad from the streets of Dublin, I think I’ve done OK.
“As a striker I will always look back, when I do finish, and say the goals, certainly for me, were definitely one of the highlights. And, you know, being captain has been tremendous also.”
The42 is on Snapchat! Tap the button below on your phone to add!
Absolute legend and a gent. Our greatest striker of all-time.
Clinton ‘Bling Bling’ Morrision might disagree
Go away Robbie. Lacked the bravery to be a great player.
To be fair if we had someone who could give him better service I think he would have more goals or still be grand for a few. Booting the ball up the pitch and asking him to run onto it constantly is pointless and is why Shane long is effective. He’s a great poacher to be on the field to get us a few sneaky goals.
As much as I love a veteran staying going, Keane has been very ineffective in a green jersey for a number of years now unfortunately, indeed I would suggest Roy of the Keanes would prob offer more on the pitch now!
Will he get on the pitch?
Enough with the cartwheels Robbie please
Did he mention the part about how it was always a dream of his as a young lad playing football on the streets of Dublin to one day appear on soccer AM.
He said he grew up supporting Liverpool, and that it is a dream for every Irish person to play for Celtic. I know English tabloids might not wrap their heads around that, but surely if you’re Irish, you know everyone has ‘their’ Premiership team and a soft spot for Celtic. Sick if this stupid joke.
HACK ATM MACHINES NEAREST TO YOU AND BECOME RICH!!!
You can hack and break into a bank’s security ATM Machine without carrying guns or any weapon.
How is this possible?
First of all we have to learn about the manual hacking of ATM MACHINES and BANKING ACCOUNTS.
HOW THE ATM MACHINE WORKS.
If you have been to the bank you find out that the money in the ATM MACHINE is being filled right inside the house where the machine is built with enough security. To hack this machine We have develop a special blank ATM Card which you can use in any ATM Machine around the world. This ATM card is been programmed and can withdraw $1000 within 24 hours in any currency. There is no ATM MACHINES this BLANK ATM CARD CANNOT penetrate because its been programmed with various tools and software. The card will make the security camera malfunction at that particular time until you are done with the transaction you can never be trace. It also has a technique that makes it impossible for the CCTVs to detect you, Getting the card you will forward the me your details so we can proceed to send the card to you once you agree to the terms and conditions. You would wonder why i send out the cards instead of using them my self to get enough money. The card does not work in my current country so i am using it to help people and they will send me part of the money once they get it and use it. If you are interested then email me for more info:( rebecca_brown12@outlook.com)
Can someone please teach him how! Because he looks ridiculous !