Robbie Keane facts for kids
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Keane with the Republic of Ireland in 2013
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert David Keane | |||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 8 July 1980 | |||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland | |||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Striker | |||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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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) | ||||||||||||||
| International career | ||||||||||||||||
| 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) | |||||||||||||
| Managerial career | ||||||||||||||||
| 2018 | ATK | |||||||||||||||
| 2023–2024 | Maccabi Tel Aviv | |||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Ferencváros | |||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | ||||||||||||||||
Robert David Keane (born 8 July 1980) is a famous Irish football coach and former player. He played as a striker, known for scoring many goals. Currently, he is the head coach of Ferencváros.
Robbie Keane was the captain of the Republic of Ireland from 2006 until he stopped playing internationally 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 a top scorer. He moved between several clubs early in his career, including Inter Milan and Leeds United. In 2002, he joined Tottenham Hotspur, where he played for over seven years in two different periods. He made 306 appearances 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 just six months. He also played on loan for Celtic and West Ham United. In 2011, he joined LA Galaxy in the USA, where he scored 104 goals in six seasons. He also had a short time with Indian club ATK. Robbie Keane retired from playing professional football in November 2018. He scored 126 Premier League goals, making him one of the top goalscorers in the league's history.
Many people consider Keane one of Ireland's best ever players. He scored 68 goals for the Republic of Ireland over 18 years, which is an all-time record for his country. He also played 146 games, another Irish record. Keane is known for his unique goal celebration: a cartwheel followed by a forward roll. After retiring as a player, he started his coaching career.
Contents
- Early Life and Youth Football
- Club Career Highlights
- International Career
- Coaching Career
- Playing Style
- Personal Life
- Career Statistics
- Honours
- See also
Early Life and Youth Football
Robert David Keane grew up in Tallaght, Dublin. He began playing football with a local club called Fettercairn. At age 10, he joined Crumlin United, where his talent was noticed early on. He also played Gaelic football until he was 15.
Keane received offers from big clubs like Liverpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers. He chose Wolves because he felt it would be easier to join their first team. He moved to Wolverhampton in July 1996, just before his 16th birthday, and joined their youth squad.
Club Career Highlights
Starting at Wolves
Keane quickly moved up through the youth teams at Wolves. He made his first professional appearance at 17 in August 1997, scoring two goals. In his next season, he was the club's top scorer with 16 goals. His great performances for Wolves and Ireland attracted attention from bigger clubs.
Moving to Coventry City
In 1999, Keane was sold to Premier League club Coventry City for a large fee, which was a record for a teenager in Britain at the time. He had a fantastic start, scoring two goals in his first game. He played a key role in Coventry's attacking team, scoring 12 goals in 34 games.
Time in Italy with Inter Milan
After his impressive season at Coventry, 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.
Playing for Leeds United
Keane started well at Leeds, scoring nine goals in 14 games. Leeds then made his loan move permanent in May 2001. However, his next season was not as successful, and he scored fewer goals. Leeds also faced financial problems and had to sell many players. Keane left Leeds for Tottenham Hotspur in 2002.
First Spell at Tottenham Hotspur
Early Success (2002–2005)
When Robbie Keane joined Tottenham, his manager, Glenn Hoddle, believed he would be a perfect fit for the club. Keane had a great debut, helping Spurs win 3–2. He quickly became Tottenham's top scorer, including a fantastic hat-trick against Everton.
In the 2003–04 season, Keane's goals were vital in keeping Tottenham in the Premier League. He scored another hat-trick against Wolves and a last-minute penalty against Arsenal. He was Tottenham's top scorer again with 16 goals.
The 2004–05 season was a bit harder for him, even though he scored 17 goals. He often had to compete with other strikers for a starting spot. He showed his frustration during one game, which led to a fine, but he soon recovered.
Becoming a Key Player (2005–2008)
In the 2005–06 season, Keane worked hard and earned his place in the team. By March, he was the club's top goalscorer. He finished the season with 16 league goals, making him one of the Premier League's top scorers. He also became the team's vice-captain.
In 2006, Keane signed a new four-year contract with Tottenham. He had a slow start to the 2006–07 season due to a knee injury. However, he returned to form and formed a strong partnership with Dimitar Berbatov. Keane scored 22 goals that season, his highest ever. He also made his 200th appearance for Tottenham.
He signed another five-year contract in May 2007. On 26 December 2007, he scored his 100th Premier League goal, becoming one of only 13 players to do so. He scored his 100th goal for Tottenham in January 2008. On 24 February 2008, he won his first senior trophy as Tottenham beat Chelsea 2–1 in the League Cup Final. Keane finished the 2007–08 season as Tottenham's joint top scorer with 23 goals. He was named Tottenham's Player of the Year three times during his time there.
Short Time at Liverpool
Liverpool showed interest in Keane in July 2008. After some discussions, Tottenham agreed to sell Keane to Liverpool. He signed a four-year contract. Keane said he had been a Liverpool fan his whole life.
He scored his first goal for Liverpool in October 2008 in a Champions League game. He scored another Champions League goal soon after. He also scored two goals against West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League. However, he found it hard to become a regular starter. In January 2009, Tottenham offered to buy him back, and Liverpool accepted.
Return to Tottenham Hotspur
Keane rejoined Tottenham in February 2009. He signed a four-year contract and 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 September 2009, he scored four goals in a 5–0 win against Burnley. He continued his scoring form in other matches that season.
Loan to Celtic
In February 2010, Keane joined Celtic on loan until the end of the season. He was given the famous number 7 shirt. Keane 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 league goal against Aberdeen. His first goal at Celtic Park was the winning goal against Dundee United. In March, Keane scored his first hat-trick for Celtic in a Scottish Cup match. He was named the Scottish Premier League Player of the Month for March 2010. He was also chosen as Celtic's Fans' Player of the Year.
Loan to West Ham United
In January 2011, Keane joined West Ham United on loan for the rest of the season. He scored in his debut game against Blackpool. West Ham had an option to keep him if they stayed in the Premier League. However, West Ham was relegated, and Keane returned to Tottenham.
Playing in the USA with LA Galaxy
Joining MLS (2011)
After leaving Tottenham, Keane joined LA Galaxy in MLS in August 2011. He became one of the club's special "designated players" alongside David Beckham and Landon Donovan. He scored in his first game for LA Galaxy.
The Galaxy won the Western Conference and the Supporters' Shield that season. Keane scored in the play-offs to help his team reach the 2011 MLS Cup. In the final, he helped set up the winning goal as the Galaxy won the cup.
Loan to Aston Villa (2012)
In January 2012, Keane moved on loan to Aston Villa for two months during the MLS off-season. He scored his first two goals for Villa in a 3–2 win against his old club, Wolverhampton Wanderers. He scored three goals in four league games for Aston Villa.
Success with LA Galaxy (2012–2016)
After returning from his loan, Keane scored twice in LA Galaxy's first win of the 2012 season. He finished with 16 regular season goals and was named in the MLS Best XI. He scored more goals in the play-offs, helping the Galaxy win the 2012 MLS Cup again.
In 2013, Keane became captain of LA Galaxy. He scored his first MLS hat-trick in May and another in August. He finished the season with 16 goals and 11 assists, earning a spot in the MLS Best XI again.
In 2014, Keane signed a new contract with LA Galaxy. He scored his 50th MLS regular-season goal in September. In December 2014, Keane won the MLS Most Valuable Player Award after scoring 19 goals and making 14 assists. Four days later, he scored the winning goal in the 2014 MLS Cup final, helping the Galaxy win their fifth title. He was also named the MLS Cup MVP.
In 2015, Keane continued to score many goals, including two hat-tricks in July. He scored his 80th MLS regular-season goal in July 2016. In November, Keane announced he would be leaving LA Galaxy but not retiring from football. He scored 104 goals in 165 games for the club.
Final Playing Stint at ATK
On 4 August 2017, Keane signed for Indian Super League team ATK, joining his former teammate Teddy Sheringham, who was the coach. He was made the team captain. However, he got injured before the season started and could not play until December. He scored his first goal for ATK in December.
Keane became player-manager of ATK in March 2018 after the previous coaches left. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win in his first game as manager. After playing and managing the last three matches, Keane decided to leave the club. He officially announced his retirement from playing football in November 2018.
International Career
Robbie Keane was part of a very talented group of young Irish footballers in the late 1990s. He was on the team that won the UEFA Under-18 European Championship in 1998.
He played his first game for the Republic of Ireland senior team in March 1998. He scored his first international goals against Malta later 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 next round against Spain, he scored another late penalty to force extra time, but Ireland lost on penalties.
In October 2004, Keane became the Republic of Ireland's all-time leading goalscorer, breaking Niall Quinn's record. He was appointed captain of the team in 2006. He scored a hat-trick in his 70th international game in November 2006.
Keane led the team to a second-place finish in the 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. He scored his 40th international goal against Cyprus. He was the top scorer in that qualifying group with 5 goals.
He earned his 100th cap (international appearance) against Argentina in August 2010. This was also the first international match at the new Aviva Stadium. In 2011, Keane scored two goals against Northern Ireland and the winning goal against Scotland to help Ireland win the Nations Cup.
On 4 June 2011, Keane scored twice against Macedonia, becoming 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, becoming the player with the most appearances. In the same game against the Faroe Islands, he scored his second international hat-trick. He scored his 60th international goal against Sweden in September 2013.
On 11 October 2014, he scored his third international hat-trick against Gibraltar, bringing his total to 65 goals. This also set a record for goals in European Championship qualifiers.
Keane was part of Ireland's squad for UEFA Euro 2016, which was his last major tournament. He announced his retirement from international football on 24 August 2016. His final game for Ireland was a friendly against Oman on 31 August 2016. He scored a goal in the 4–0 victory, bringing his international goal total to 68. He received a huge cheer from the crowd when he left the field.
Coaching Career
Assistant Roles
In November 2018, Robbie 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 in the Championship league. He left both roles in 2020. In May 2023, Keane joined the coaching staff of Premier League side Leeds, but left in June after the club was relegated.
First Managerial Role: Maccabi Tel Aviv
On 26 June 2023, Keane was appointed head coach of Israeli Premier League team Maccabi Tel Aviv. This was his first time as a main manager. Some groups expressed disappointment about his decision to work in Israel during a time of conflict. Keane stated he was there as a football man and would focus only on the game.
Keane started his time as manager with a strong run of wins. He led the club to win the Toto Cup in January 2024. His team also reached the last 16 of the UEFA Europa Conference League. He won the Israeli Premier League title in his only season with the club. Keane decided to leave Maccabi Tel Aviv at the end of the season.
Managing Ferencváros
On 6 January 2025, Keane became the new head coach of Ferencváros in Hungary. His team qualified for the knock-out stage of the UEFA Europa League. On 9 March 2025, he secured his first league victory in Hungary. On 6 April 2025, he led Ferencváros to a 2–0 win in the Budapest Derby against their rivals. On 10 April 2025, his team set a record for the biggest home victory of the season, winning 7–0. Keane led Ferencváros to win the Hungarian league title at the end of the 2024–25 season.
Playing Style
Robbie Keane was a very talented and quick forward. He could play in different attacking positions, like a main striker, a second striker, or an attacking midfielder. He was good at both scoring goals and helping others score. Keane was known for his speed, dribbling skills, and creativity. He also showed strong leadership throughout his career.
His most famous goal celebration involved a cartwheel, followed by a forward roll, and then pretending to fire pistols with his hands.
Personal Life
Robbie Keane married Claudine Palmer, a TV presenter, in June 2008. They have two sons, born in 2009 and 2015. 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 high goalscorer in Irish football history. Keane has a U.S. green card, which means he is considered a local player for MLS teams. He also has a UEFA "A" coaching license.
Keane supported the legalisation of same-sex marriage in Ireland before the 2015 referendum. 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, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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 | 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 24 May 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 | 25 | 15 | 6 | 4 | 60.00 |
| Total | 84 | 58 | 15 | 11 | 69.05 | |||
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
Ferencváros
- Nemzeti Bajnokság I: 2024–25
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
