Record-breaker Robbie Keane announces retirement from international football

Robbie Keane has announced his retirement from international football after 18 years in the green of Ireland.

 

The Tallaght native has amassed 67 goals from 145 games and will step away as the country's record caps holder and all-time goalscorer with his final appearance set to come in the friendly against Oman on Wednesday, 31 August at the Aviva Stadium.

 

Keane appeared in three major international tournaments (FIFA World Cup 2002, UEFA Euro 2012 and Euro 2016) and scored in 15 consecutive years to place him 15th on the list of all-time international goal scorers.

 

Announcing the news on Facebook, the LA Galaxy striker said: “It has been a wonderful journey for me to have played with the Irish national team for over eighteen years since I made my senior international debut back in 1998.

 

“I have enjoyed it all. It has also been a great honour, for both me and my family, to have been given the opportunity to captain my country for over ten years.

 



“As a young boy growing up in Dublin playing football on the street I could never have imagined the path my life would take - it has exceeded my wildest expectations.

 

“I have been extremely lucky to have had the opportunity to play for and captain my country - it was my ultimate goal all those years ago and it has been, by far, my greatest achievement.

 

“I would never have believed all those years ago that I would get the opportunity to play for my country 145 times and to score 67 goals and through it all, I have never stopped chasing the next one!”

 



Ireland manager Martin O'Neill paid tribute to his captain, saying: "Robbie's appearances and goals for Ireland speak for themselves.

 

"He is undoubtedly one of Ireland's finest every players and I do not see his international goal record being beaten for a very long time, if ever. It will take us some time to get over his absence."

 

Keane was part of the Ireland under-18 team that won the UEFA European Championships in 1998. He was elevated to the senior team at the age of 17 after making the breakthrough with Wolverhampton Wanderers.

 

The free-scoring striker went on to play in four different countries for 10 different clubs, including Coventry City, Inter Milan, Leeds United, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool, Celtic, West Ham United, Aston Villa and LA Galaxy.

 

Keane broke Niall Quinn's international goalscoring record for Ireland in 2004 with a brace against Faroe Islands. He went on to become the fourth senior player to earn 100 caps in the first international game at the redeveloped Aviva Stadium in 2010.

 

Keane will continue with his club but Ireland supporters will get the chance to bid farewell to the record goalscorer in the 'Three' International against Oman at Aviva Stadium on Wednesday, 31 August.

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