Robbie Keane facts for kids
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Keane with the Republic of Ireland in 2013
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 8 July 1980 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m | |||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Striker | |||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||
| Current club | Ferencváros (head coach) | |||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||
| 1986–1990 | Fettercairn YFC | |||||||||||||||
| 1990–1996 | Crumlin United | |||||||||||||||
| 1996–1997 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | |||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||
| 1997–1999 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 73 | (24) | |||||||||||||
| 1999–2000 | Coventry City | 31 | (12) | |||||||||||||
| 2000–2001 | Inter Milan | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 2001 | → Leeds United (loan) | 18 | (9) | |||||||||||||
| 2001–2002 | Leeds United | 28 | (4) | |||||||||||||
| 2002–2008 | Tottenham Hotspur | 197 | (80) | |||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | Liverpool | 19 | (5) | |||||||||||||
| 2009–2011 | Tottenham Hotspur | 41 | (11) | |||||||||||||
| 2010 | → Celtic (loan) | 16 | (12) | |||||||||||||
| 2011 | → West Ham United (loan) | 9 | (2) | |||||||||||||
| 2011–2016 | LA Galaxy | 125 | (83) | |||||||||||||
| 2012 | → Aston Villa (loan) | 6 | (3) | |||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | ATK | 9 | (6) | |||||||||||||
| Total | 578 | (251) | ||||||||||||||
| National team | ||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Republic of Ireland U16 | 3 | (1) | |||||||||||||
| 1998 | Republic of Ireland U18 | 4 | (3) | |||||||||||||
| 1999 | Republic of Ireland U20 | 4 | (0) | |||||||||||||
| 1998–2016 | Republic of Ireland | 146 | (68) | |||||||||||||
| Teams managed | ||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | ATK | |||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | |||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Ferencváros | |||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Robert David Keane (born 8 July 1980) is an Irish professional football coach and former player. He played as a striker and is now the head coach of Ferencváros. Robbie Keane was the captain of the Republic of Ireland from 2006 until he retired from international games in 2016. He holds the record for playing the most games and scoring the most goals for his country.
Keane started his career at Wolverhampton Wanderers, scoring two goals in his very first game at age 17. He quickly became the club's top scorer. Between 1999 and 2002, he moved to several clubs, including Inter Milan and Leeds United. In 2002, he joined Tottenham Hotspur, where he played for over seven years in two separate periods. He played 306 games and scored 122 goals for Tottenham. His best season was 2007–08, when he scored 23 goals and won his first major trophy, the League Cup.
In 2008, Keane moved to Liverpool but returned to Tottenham after only six months. He then played on loan for Celtic and West Ham United. In 2011, he moved to LA Galaxy in the USA, where he scored 104 goals in six seasons. He also had a short loan spell at Aston Villa. After a brief time with Indian club ATK, Keane retired from playing football in November 2018. He scored 126 goals in the Premier League for six different teams, making him one of the top goalscorers in the league's history.
Robbie Keane is known as one of Ireland's best football players ever. He scored 68 goals for the Republic of Ireland national team over 18 years, which is an all-time record for his country. He also played 146 games for Ireland, another record. Keane is among the top international goalscorers in Europe. He is the only player in football history to score at least one international goal in 19 years in a row. He was Ireland's top scorer at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, helping them reach the last 16. He also played in UEFA Euro 2012 and UEFA Euro 2016. During his career, he was famous for his goal celebration: a cartwheel followed by a forward roll.
After retiring as a player, Keane started coaching. He became assistant manager for the Ireland national team in 2018. He also worked as an assistant coach at Middlesbrough in 2019. In June 2023, he became the head coach of Maccabi Tel Aviv in Israel. He won the Israeli Premier League and the Toto Cup in his first season there.
Contents
- Early Life and First Steps in Football
- Club Career Highlights
- International Career for Ireland
- Coaching Career
- Playing Style and Famous Celebration
- Personal Life
- Career Statistics
- Honours
- Images for kids
- See also
Early Life and First Steps in Football
Robert David Keane was born and grew up in Tallaght, Dublin. He started playing football with a local club called Fettercairn. At age 10, he joined Crumlin United, where his talent was quickly noticed. He also played Gaelic football until he was 15, then decided to focus only on football.
Keane received offers from both Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers. He chose Wolverhampton because he thought it would be easier to get into their main team. He moved to Wolverhampton in July 1996, just before his 16th birthday, and joined their youth team.
Club Career Highlights
Starting Strong at Wolverhampton Wanderers
Keane quickly moved up through Wolves' youth teams. He made his first professional appearance on 9 August 1997, at age 17. In that game against Norwich City, he scored two goals! The next season, he was the club's top scorer with 16 goals. His great performances made bigger clubs interested in him.
Moving to Coventry City
In 1999, Keane was sold to Premier League club Coventry City for a large fee. He started well, scoring two goals in his first game. He played a big part in Coventry's attacking team, scoring 12 goals in 34 games in the Premier League.
A Brief Spell at Inter Milan
After a great season, Keane joined Italian club Inter Milan in July 2000. However, his time there was short. The manager who signed him was soon replaced, and the new manager did not need Keane. In December 2000, he was loaned to Leeds United. Keane played 14 games for Inter, scoring three goals.
Time at Leeds United
Keane's time at Leeds started well, with nine goals in 14 games. Leeds then bought him permanently in May 2001. However, his next season was not as good, and he scored only nine goals in 33 games. Leeds faced financial problems and had to sell many players. Keane was sold to Tottenham Hotspur in 2002.
Becoming a Star at Tottenham Hotspur
First Years (2002–2005)
When Keane joined Tottenham, his manager Glenn Hoddle believed he would fit in perfectly. Keane had a great first game, helping Tottenham win 3–2. He finished his first season as Tottenham's top scorer with 13 goals, including a hat-trick against Everton.
In the 2003–04 season, Keane's goals helped Tottenham avoid being relegated. He scored another hat-trick against Wolves and a last-minute penalty against Arsenal. He was again Tottenham's top scorer with 16 goals.
His third season (2004–05) was a bit harder, even though he scored 17 goals. He often had to compete with other strikers for a spot in the team.
The 2005–06 season began with Keane not always starting games. But his hard work paid off, and he eventually became a regular starter. He finished the season with 16 league goals, making him one of the top scorers in the Premier League. He also became the team's vice-captain.
Later Years and First Trophy (2006–2008)
In 2006, Keane signed a new four-year contract with Tottenham. The 2006–07 season started slowly for him due to a knee injury. But after recovering, he formed a strong partnership with Dimitar Berbatov. Keane scored 22 goals that season, his highest ever.
He played his 200th game for Tottenham in May 2007, scoring a goal. He signed another five-year contract. On 26 December 2007, he scored his 100th Premier League goal, becoming one of only a few players to do so. In 2007, he scored 31 goals and made 13 assists.
On 24 February 2008, Keane won his first major trophy: the League Cup. Tottenham beat Chelsea 2–1 in the final at Wembley Stadium. He finished the 2007–08 season as Tottenham's joint top scorer with 23 goals. He was also named Tottenham's Player of the Year three times. His great performances caught the eye of Liverpool.
Short Stay at Liverpool
Liverpool bought Keane in July 2008. He was given the number 7 shirt. He scored his first goal for Liverpool in a UEFA Champions League game in October 2008. He also scored two goals against West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. However, he struggled to become a regular starter. In January 2009, he returned to Tottenham.
Back to Tottenham Hotspur
Keane rejoined Tottenham in February 2009. He was made Tottenham's vice-captain again. He scored his first goal back at the club in March, helping Tottenham win 4–0. He also scored a crucial last-minute goal against Sunderland. In July 2009, Keane captained Tottenham to win the Premier League Asia Trophy in China. On 26 September 2009, he scored four goals in a 5–0 win against Burnley.
Loan to Celtic
In February 2010, Keane joined Scottish club Celtic on loan. He was given the famous number 7 shirt. He said he was a Celtic fan and always wanted to play for them. He scored his first goal for Celtic in a Scottish Cup game. He then scored his first hat-trick for Celtic in another Scottish Cup match. Keane enjoyed his time at Celtic and was named Celtic's Fans' Player of the Year.
Loan to West Ham United
In January 2011, Keane joined West Ham United on loan. He scored in his debut game against Blackpool. However, West Ham was relegated from the Premier League that season, so Keane returned to Tottenham.
Adventures in America with LA Galaxy
Starting in MLS (2011)
After leaving Tottenham, Keane joined LA Galaxy in MLS in the USA in August 2011. He became one of their "designated players," alongside stars like David Beckham and Landon Donovan. He scored in his first game for LA Galaxy. The Galaxy won the Supporters' Shield and the MLS Cup in 2011. Keane helped set up the winning goal in the MLS Cup final.
Loan to Aston Villa
In January 2012, Keane went on a two-month loan to Aston Villa in England. This was during the MLS off-season. He scored his first two goals for Villa in a 3–2 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers. He scored three goals in four league games for Aston Villa.
Success with LA Galaxy (2012–2016)
After his loan, Keane returned to LA Galaxy. In 2012, he scored 16 goals in the regular season and was named in the MLS Best XI. He scored two goals in the 2012 MLS Cup final, helping Galaxy win the trophy again.
In 2013, Keane became captain of LA Galaxy. He scored his first MLS hat-trick in a 4–0 win against Seattle. He scored another hat-trick later that season. He was again named in the MLS Best XI for his 16 goals and 11 assists.
In 2014, Keane signed a new contract. He scored his 50th MLS regular-season goal. On 3 December 2014, he won the MLS Most Valuable Player Award for scoring 19 goals and making 14 assists. Four days later, he scored the winning goal in the 2014 MLS Cup final, helping Galaxy win their fifth title. He was also named the MLS Cup MVP.
In 2015, Keane scored hat-tricks in two consecutive games. He continued to score regularly in 2016. In November, Keane announced he would leave LA Galaxy but would not retire from football. He scored 104 goals in 165 games for the club.
Final Playing Days at ATK
On 4 August 2017, Keane signed for Indian Super League team ATK in India. He was excited to play in a new league and was made club captain. However, he got an injury and could not play until December. He scored his first goal for ATK on 23 December.
In March 2018, Keane became player-manager of ATK after their coach was sacked. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win in his first game as manager. After managing the last three matches, Keane decided to leave the club. He officially announced his retirement from playing football on 28 November 2018.
International Career for Ireland
Robbie Keane was part of a very talented group of young Irish players in the late 1990s. He won the UEFA Under-18 European Championship with Ireland in 1998. He played his first game for the senior Republic of Ireland team in March 1998. He scored his first international goals in October of that year.
Keane was chosen for the Republic of Ireland squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan. He scored three goals in Ireland's four games. He scored a last-minute goal against Germany to get a 1–1 draw. In the Round of 16, he scored a penalty against Spain to force extra time, but Ireland lost on penalties.
On 13 October 2004, Keane became the Republic of Ireland's all-time leading goalscorer. He scored his 22nd and 23rd goals, breaking Niall Quinn's record. In March 2006, Keane was made captain of the Republic of Ireland team. He celebrated his 70th international game with a hat-trick against San Marino.
As captain, Keane led Ireland to a second-place finish in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers. He scored his 40th international goal against Cyprus. He also scored his 41st goal in a play-off match against France.
Keane played his 100th game for the Republic of Ireland in August 2010. In 2011, he scored three goals in the Nations Cup, helping Ireland win the tournament. On 4 June 2011, Keane scored two goals against Macedonia. This made him the first Irish or British player to score more than 50 international goals. He scored two more goals against Estonia, helping Ireland qualify for UEFA Euro 2012.
In June 2013, Keane played his 126th game for Ireland, breaking Shay Given's record for most appearances. In the same game, he scored his second international hat-trick against the Faroe Islands. He scored his third international hat-trick in a 7–0 win against Gibraltar in October 2014. This took him to a record 21 goals in European Championship qualifiers, which was later broken by Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo.
Keane was part of Ireland's squad for UEFA Euro 2016, but he mostly played as a substitute. On 24 August 2016, Keane announced his retirement from international football. His last game was a friendly against Oman on 31 August 2016. Ireland won 4–0, and Keane scored a goal, bringing his total to 68 international goals. He received a huge cheer from the fans when he left the pitch.
Coaching Career
ATK
In March 2018, Keane became player-manager for ATK in India. He managed the last three games of the season, winning one. After the season, he decided to leave the club.
Assistant Coach Roles
In November 2018, Keane became the assistant manager for the Republic of Ireland national team. In June 2019, he also took on the role of assistant manager at Middlesbrough. He left both roles in 2020. In May 2023, Keane joined the coaching staff at Premier League side Leeds. However, he left Leeds in June after the club was relegated.
Head Coach at Maccabi Tel Aviv
On 26 June 2023, Keane was appointed head coach of Israeli Premier League team Maccabi Tel Aviv. This was his first main managerial job. He started well, leading Maccabi Tel Aviv to the top of the league. He won the Toto Cup in January 2024. His team reached the last 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League. He led the club to win the league in his only season. At the end of the season, Keane decided to leave the club.
New Role at Ferencváros
On 6 January 2025, Keane was hired as the new head coach of Ferencváros in Hungary. His first game was a 2-0 defeat in the UEFA Europa League.
Playing Style and Famous Celebration
Robbie Keane was a very talented, quick, and agile player. He could play anywhere in attack because he was good at scoring goals and setting them up for others. He often played as a second striker, a winger, or an attacking midfielder. He was known for his speed, dribbling skills, and creativity. He was also a strong leader on the field.
Keane was famous for his unique goal celebration. After scoring, he would do a cartwheel, then a forward roll, and then stand up and pretend to fire pistols with his hands.
Personal Life
Robbie Keane married Claudine Palmer in June 2008. They have two sons. His older son plays for Shamrock Rovers.
Keane is a cousin of the English singer Morrissey. He also has a cousin, Jason Byrne, who is a top goalscorer in the League of Ireland. Keane has a U.S. green card, which means he can play as a local player in MLS. He also has a high-level UEFA coaching license.
Keane has supported the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Ireland. He and his family are Roman Catholic.
Keane is an ambassador for the Children's Medical & Research Foundation in Dublin. He has helped raise money for hospitals and frontline workers in Ireland.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1997–98 | First Division | 38 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 11 | ||
| 1998–99 | First Division | 33 | 11 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 39 | 16 | |||
| 1999–2000 | First Division | 2 | 2 | — | 1 | 0 | — | — | 3 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 73 | 24 | 5 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 87 | 29 | ||
| Coventry City | 1999–2000 | Premier League | 31 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 12 | ||
| Inter Milan | 2000–01 | Serie A | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 14 | 3 | |
| Leeds United (loan) | 2000–01 | Premier League | 18 | 9 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 20 | 9 | |||
| Leeds United | 2001–02 | Premier League | 25 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | — | 33 | 9 | |
| 2002–03 | Premier League | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 3 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 46 | 13 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 56 | 19 | ||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2002–03 | Premier League | 29 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 13 | ||
| 2003–04 | Premier League | 34 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 41 | 16 | |||
| 2004–05 | Premier League | 35 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 45 | 17 | |||
| 2005–06 | Premier League | 36 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 16 | |||
| 2006–07 | Premier League | 27 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 5 | — | 44 | 22 | ||
| 2007–08 | Premier League | 36 | 15 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 10 | 4 | — | 54 | 23 | ||
| Total | 197 | 80 | 19 | 11 | 19 | 7 | 19 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 254 | 107 | ||
| Liverpool | 2008–09 | Premier League | 19 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | — | 28 | 7 | |
| Total | 19 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 7 | ||||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2008–09 | Premier League | 14 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 5 | ||||
| 2009–10 | Premier League | 20 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 25 | 9 | |||
| 2010–11 | Premier League | 7 | 0 | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — | 13 | 1 | |||
| Total | 41 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 52 | 15 | ||
| Celtic (loan) | 2009–10 | Scottish Premier League | 16 | 12 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 16 | ||
| West Ham United (loan) | 2010–11 | Premier League | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 10 | 2 | |||
| LA Galaxy | 2011 | MLS | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 4 | |
| 2012 | MLS | 28 | 16 | 0 | 0 | — | 3 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 37 | 23 | ||
| 2013 | MLS | 23 | 16 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 30 | 19 | ||
| 2014 | MLS | 29 | 19 | 1 | 0 | — | 2 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 37 | 23 | ||
| 2015 | MLS | 24 | 20 | 2 | 3 | — | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 28 | 25 | ||
| 2016 | MLS | 17 | 10 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 22 | 10 | ||
| Total | 125 | 83 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 9 | 21 | 9 | 165 | 104 | ||
| Aston Villa (loan) | 2011–12 | Premier League | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 7 | 3 | |||
| ATK | 2017–18 | Indian Super League | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | — | — | — | 11 | 8 | |||
| Career total | 578 | 251 | 45 | 24 | 36 | 17 | 57 | 24 | 21 | 9 | 737 | 325 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Republic of Ireland | 1998 | 5 | 2 |
| 1999 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2000 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2001 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2002 | 11 | 6 | |
| 2003 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2004 | 10 | 6 | |
| 2005 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2007 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2008 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2009 | 11 | 6 | |
| 2010 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2011 | 10 | 8 | |
| 2012 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 9 | 8 | |
| 2014 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2015 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2016 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | 146 | 68 | |
Managerial
As of 23 January 2025
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | ||||
| ATK |  |
3 March 2018 | 31 May 2018 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 66.67 |
| Maccabi Tel Aviv |  |
26 June 2023 | 7 June 2024 | 56 | 41 | 9 | 6 | 73.21 |
| Ferencváros |  |
6 January 2025 | present | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0.00 |
| Total | 60 | 43 | 9 | 8 | 71.67 | |||
Honours
- As Player
Tottenham Hotspur
- Football League Cup: 2007–08
LA Galaxy
- MLS Cup: 2011, 2012, 2014
- Supporters' Shield: 2011
Republic of Ireland U18
- UEFA European Under-18 Championship: 1998
Republic of Ireland
- Nations Cup: 2011
Individual
- FAI Young International Player of the Year: 1998, 1999
- Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Year: 2003, 2005–06, 2007–08
- Premier League Player of the Month: August 1999, January 2001, April 2007
- PFA Team of the Year: 1997–98 First Division
- Scottish Premier League Player of the Month: March 2010
- Celtic Player of The Year: 2009–10
- FAI International Goal of the Year: 2004 (vs. Netherlands), 2005 (vs. Israel), 2009 (vs. France)
- FAI Senior International Player of the Year: 2009, 2013
- MLS Best XI: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
- MLS Player of the Month: July 2012, August 2013
- MLS MVP: 2014
- MLS Cup MVP: 2014
- Best MLS Player ESPY: 2015
- MLS All-Star: 2015
- LA Galaxy Most Valuable Player: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
- As Manager
Maccabi Tel Aviv
- Toto Cup Al: 2024
- Israeli Premier League: 2023–24
Images for kids
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Keane taking a penalty against Birmingham City at White Hart Lane in December 2005
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Keane playing against Chelsea on 21 March 2009 at White Hart Lane
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Keane warming up for West Ham United before a match against Aston Villa in April 2011
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Keane in action for LA Galaxy in 2013
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Keane and his 2014 MLS Cup-winning teammates meeting President Barack Obama in the White House
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Keane with the Republic of Ireland national team in 2004
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Keane with the Republic of Ireland in 2011 before a match against Russia
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Keane during a match against Spain national football team at Euro 2012
See also
In Spanish: Robbie Keane para niños
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
- List of men's footballers with 50 or more international goals
