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A young Robbie Keane celebrates with Wolves team-mates Allsport/INPHO

'He has really become a man' - Robbie Keane's first coach fondly recalls 'Jack the lad'

“I always believed he could be special,” Mark McGhee said.

SCOTLAND ASSISTANT MANAGER Mark McGhee has fondly recalled a young Robbie Keane, who the coach handed a senior debut to during his tenure as Wolves boss back in 1997.

McGhee, who comes head to head with his former player this Friday as the Scottish team take on Ireland in a vital Euro 2016 qualifier, remembers being highly impressed by the Dubliner as a youngster, telling Herald Scotland.

“I always believed he could be special. Even at that age he was sensational and he’s had a sensational career.

“One of the things that has impressed me about him is that over the years he has matured. He has really become a man, coming from being a kind of Jack the lad little Irish boy, to quite a serious and respected individual, captaining his country.

“It’s a fantastic rise. He’ll be relishing this game, going to Parkhead, for sure.”

McGhee also denied that the game with Ireland this week was a must-win encounter, but admits that it has overshadowed their upcoming clash with England.

“Absolutely no disrespect to the England game, it’s not irrelevant, but it’s on a different level from the Ireland game. This is the most important game of our tenure, there’s no doubt about it.

“It’s a huge opportunity for both teams to take the advantage if one of us could win it. It’s all about qualifying for France. We could beat England 6-0, but it doesn’t get us to France. This is the game.”

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    Mute Dave Barry
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    Jan 16th 2017, 3:38 PM

    RIP to a true legend of the industry. Also call me old fashioned, but this trend of posting a picture of holding a dying relatives hand feels like an involuntary invasion of privacy on my part. Just feels like something that should be between family and friends.

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    Mute Barry Newell
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    Jan 16th 2017, 4:03 PM

    Was he not due to be convicted of murdering his wife or something!!!!

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    Jan 16th 2017, 5:12 PM

    Read the article.

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    Mute Kris Ertz
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    Jan 16th 2017, 5:25 PM

    Iconic wrestler and pioneer no doubt but the circumstances surrounding that poor girl’s death far too suspicious.

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    John
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    Jan 16th 2017, 3:54 PM

    One of the greatest, his superfly smash is an iconic finishing move and of course he was the first man to fight The Undertaker at Wrestlemania. Rest in peace Superfly

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    Mute blueman79
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    Jan 17th 2017, 2:16 AM

    This is sad an all…. but what’s it got to do with sport ??

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