Robbie Keane has confirmed he is retiring from professional football.
The news comes just days after the footballer was revealed as part of Mick McCarthy’s management team.
Robbie made the announcement today and recalled how his football life was a dream: “From Crumlin United around the world to the likes of Milan, London and Los Angeles, I could never have imagined the path my football life would take.”
“It has exceeded all the hopes I had as a football-mad boy growing up in Dublin.”
The 38-year-old scored a total of 68 goals in 146 appearances for the Ireland team, with spells in a range of teams including Wolves, Coventry City, Inter Milan, Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Celtic, West Ham, LA Galaxy, Aston Villa and most recently and ATK in India.
Robbie continued to tell fans that he was always driven to succeed: “Leaving home at 15 years of age to pursue my professional career in England seems a lifetime ago now.”
“I was a street footballer full of hope armed with huge ambitions and a determination to succeed. All I needed was that one chance.”
The father-of-one finished his statement referring to his time with the boys in green:”I enjoyed every moment of the most incredible journey with the Ireland team over an 18-year period and as I have said many times before, words cannot express how proud I am to be Irish. I hope I have made the fans proud wearing the green jersey and armband.
