Robbie Keane - Ireland's Greatest Soccer Player?
Robbie Keane Credit: Michael P Ryan (ETPhotos)
Few Irish players in Premier League history have impacted the league as Robbie Keane did. So, let's look and see if the Republic of Ireland's top goal scorer is the number one soccer export or if there are other contenders for that crown.
If you glance at the top scorers in the history of the Premier League, Keane sits comfortably within the top 20. However, he lies ahead of some fantastic players and is only a few goals short of Premier League winners such as Mo Salah and Jamie Vardy. Ultimately, Robbie would be much higher on this list if he didn't move abroad or spend half a decade playing for LA Galaxy.
If you're a betting person, you'd probably bet that Harry Kane is set to break Alan Shearer's record if he stays playing in England for the rest of his career. You can find plenty of sportsbook markets online that will give you a price on this eventuality. But, of course, it depends on whether he decides to play further afield in Europe. However, suppose gambling on sports isn't your thing, and you prefer online casino gaming. In that case, online blackjack tables are available whenever you feel like unwinding after a long day and playing some games.
The point remains the same, though, if Robbie Keane stayed at Spurs for his whole career in the same way Kane has, he could easily be up there in the top 5 Premier League strikers.
Robbie Or Roy?
It isn't just about Robbie Keane, his namesake Roy, who is no relation, is also a top contender for this title. Roy Keane was a talismanic and unforgiving central midfielder who captained some of the greatest Manchester United teams ever.
This was despite a controversial relationship with the international team, with notable controversies regarding comments about the selection process and the infamous World Cup incident in 2002. Roy Keane played at a much higher level than Robbie and won many more trophies, playing a pivotal role in multiple league titles and domestic and European trophy campaigns.
If you're looking at these two players on paper, you must go for Roy. However, when both were operating at their very best and firing on all cylinders, both players could win a game at the highest level single-handedly.
Robbie's Best Form
Although Roy may have been the more naturally gifted of the two, he was undoubtedly more disruptive. After causing such uproar in the build-up to the World Cup in 2002 and causing mass disruption and unsettling the camp, Robbie helped pull the Republic of Ireland through the group stages and into the last sixteen. He ended the tournament as his country's top scorer. In addition, he is his country's top scorer overall and is one of the few players in football history to score in 19 consecutive football seasons.
His best club form occurred during his first spell at Tottenham Hotspur between 2002 and 2008. Spurs fans adore Keane, and with a strike rate of 87 goals in 190 games, it is clear why. He struck up a fantastic partnership with his striking partner Dimitar Berbatov. Spurs fans have great memories of these times, as the 2008 Carling Cup was the last domestic trophy they won. This period was when Robbie was the Spurs captain, and they enjoyed some great days at White Hart Lane before moving to their new stadium.
Other Contenders
As part of Ireland's golden generation, Robbie stood alongside the likes of Roy Keane, Ian Harte, and Damien Duff as some of the top players that emerged during this period. When Robbie signed for his boyhood club Liverpool, he found himself at one of the most historic clubs in the league. However, within half a year, he was already back at Tottenham Hotspur following a disastrous time in Merseyside.
Ian Harte was one of the stalwarts of a fantastic Leeds United team, and Damien Duff was earmarked as a top player by Jose Mourinho when the self-proclaimed "special one" was first appointed as Chelsea manager back in 2004.
Although they played in two different areas of the pitch, the showdown for Ireland's greatest soccer export is a direct competition between Roy and Robbie Keane. Robbie is Ireland's highest-ever goal scorer and is one of the highest-scoring players in the history of English football. Conversely, Roy was named one of the top players in the world during his successful career at Manchester United. He has won the European Cup, multiple Premier Leagues, and FA Cups and captained Manchester United to some of the most significant victories in their history.
So no, we wouldn't say Robbie is Ireland's greatest soccer export, but he is one of them. He is pipped to the post by Roy, whose career and accolades speak for themselves. However, there is no shame in that.
