K | Player Pics | First Team Squad | A-Z of Players

Personal

Fullname: Robert David Keane
aka: Robbie Keane, Keano
Born: 8 July 1980
Birthplace: Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland
Height: 5ft 8in, 1.73m
Signed: 1 Feb 2010
Fee: Loan
Position: Striker, Forward
Internationals: Republic of Ireland
International Caps: 96 [to be completed at end of career]
International Goals: 41 [to be completed at end of career]

KDS Honours

KDS Honours
MOTM Winners 2009-10
07-Mar-10	Falkirk 0-2 Celtic	SPL
13-Mar-10	Kilmarnock 0-3 Celtic	SPL

Biog

Republic of Ireland skipper Robbie Keane signed for Celtic on February 1st 2010 when he agreed a 6-month loan deal with the Bhoys.

The stunning deadline day capture of the Tottenham man topped off a remarkably busy transfer window for the Hoops. Dublin-born Keane had long been touted as a possible Celtic target, so much so that the "Robbie Keane rumour" had become a transfer window tradition among the Parkhead support.

Given this - and the fact that Keane's reported £65,000 per week wages meant he was regarded out of Celtic's price range - it was a massive surprise when news of the potential deal was revealed on Sky Sports News just seven hours before the closure of the window. With Celtic cyberspace in near meltdown the switch was finally confirmed a little after 8pm.

A vastly experienced and talented forward, Keane, 29, is a well travelled striker who began his professional career as a teenager with Wolverhampton Wanderers. After impressing with some fine performances for the Black Country side he moved across the Midlands in 1999 in a £6 million switch to Coventry. After a single season with the Sky Blues he moved to Inter Milan when Marcello Lippi splashed out £13 million for player now regarded as one of the hottest properties in European football.

However that move turned sour when Lippi was sacked and Keane was loaned out to Leeds United. That deal became permanent in May 2001 when the Elland Road side paid out £12 million. With Leeds in deep financial trouble Keane signed for Spurs in 2002, making almost 200 appearances and scoring 80 goals for the Londoners.

Having established himself as one of the most accomplished forwards in the Premiership Keane was on the move again, this time Liverpool paid out £20m in July 2008. But Robbie would only 15 appearances for the Anfield club and in February 2009 he was back at Spurs for a cut-price for £12m.

Skipper for the Republic of Ireland, Keane has long been a talisman for his nation netting an impressive 41 goals from 96 appearances. He represented Ireland at the 2002 World Cup and scored three goals in four games.

With cumulative transfer fees in excess of £70m it seemed unlikely that the "Robbie Keane rumour" would ever come true for Celtic fans. However that was all to change on February 1st 2010 and a crowd of 5,000 Hoops fans gathered outside Celtic Park in freezing temperatures to greet their idol at just a little after midnight.

Keane's debut came the very next day at Kilmarnock but in typical Celtic style the support soon came crashing to earth from high of the night before. Undoubtedly tired from the whirlwind events of the previous 24 hours Keane laboured to inspire a disjointed Celtic side as the hosts performed a smash and grab raid and took all three points.

The next game Keane came off the bench at half-time and would net a penalty as Celtic claimed a 4-2 victory at Dunfermline in the Scottish Cup. Throughtout the second half Keane had tormented the opposition backline. His excellent touch, vision and movement stood out in a performance which tantalised the Bhoys support.

Playing Career

[Table to indicate clubs played for, including dates, transfers and fees where known [e.g. soccerbase table]]

Honours with Celtic

[Indicate any known awards (player of the year, etc)]

Pictures

• Player Pics
  

Media

• Do we have videos etc?
  

Links

• Any links where the reader can find out more