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Robbie didn't take long to impress in England and made his first team debut at the tender age of 17. Even then the Ireland Youth manager, ironically Brian Kerr, felt Keane to young to take to the World Youth Championships that year.
But being in Wolves first team set-up meant that Keane didn't take long to break into Ireland's International scene and made his debut as a substitute for Alan Maybury against the Czech Republic in 1998, aged 18. Since then Robbie has never looked back.
With the footballing world marvelling at the prominent rise of Robbie Keane, a big money move has not far away and indeed later that year Coventry City captured the Tallaght man for £6 million. In between everthing else Robbie was instrumental in bringing the Under 18 European Championships to Ireland and he finished the Euro 2000 qualifiers with the full squad with five goals. Still only 19.
That summer, Robbie left Coventry City for the bright lights of Milan. Inter paid £13 million for Keane's services. But Keane didn't stay long in Italy as a combination of Ronaldo, Vieri and a new manger meant his stay was not a successful one. But his value didn't drop and after a loan spell he made a £12 million move to David O'Leary's young Leeds United. Keane did well at Eland Road, despite Fowler, Viduka, Bridges and Smith who all were vying for two places.
During that time Keane did endure his longest goal scoring drought of his international career (9 games) but it ended in spectacular fashion when he scored Ireland's first goal in the World Cup play off win with a volley against Iran.
That was just the beginning for the young Keano as while Roy didn't play in Japan/Korea, Robbie set it alight. Scoring a last minute winner against Germany, A trademark volley against the Saudis, another last minute penalty against the Spanish and a penalty in the ill-fated shootout. Keane was shortlisted for the Team of the Tournament, a testiment to the 21 year old's performances.
Another move, this time to Tottenham Hotspur meant Keane was guarenteed first team football in the Premiership and he hasn't looked back since, for club or country.
Robbie Keane (Tottenham Hotspur)
Born: 08/07/80 Caps: 53 Goals: 21
Games scored in marked in bold
Caps:
V Czech (a) 25/03/98 1-2 sub for Alan Maybury (half time)
V Argentina (h) 22/04/97 0-2
V Mexico (h) 23/05/98 0-0
V Croatia (h) 05/09/98 2-0 replaced by Lee Carsley (61 mins)
V Malta (h) 14/10/98 5-0 replaced by Mark Kennedy (83 mins) (scored twice)
V Paraguay (h) 10/02/99 2-0
V Sweden (h) 28/04/99 2-0 sub for Niall Quinn (70 mins)
V Northern Ireland (h) 29/05/99 0-1
V Macedonia (h) 09/06/99 1-0 replaced by Tony Cascarino (68 mins)
V Yugoslavia (h) 01/09/99 2-1
V Malta (a) 08/09/99 3-2
V Macedonia (a) 09/10/99 1-1
V Turkey (h) 13/11/99 1-1
V Czech (h) 23/02/00 3-2 replaced by David Connolly (90 mins)
V Greece (h) 26/04/00 0-1
V Scotland (h) 30/05/00 1-2
V Mexico (n) 04/06/00 2-2 replaced by Dominic Foley (half time)
V South Africa (n) 11/06/00 2-1
V Holland (a) 02/09/00 2-2
V Portugal (a) 07/10/00 1-1
V Estonia (h) 11/10/00 2-0 replaced by Dominic Foley (87 mins)
V Finland (h) 15/11/00 3-0
V Cyprus (a) 24/03/01 4-0
V Andorra (a) 28/03/01 3-0
V Portugal (h) 02/06/01 1-1 replaced by Damien Duff (60 mins)
V Croatia (h) 15/08/01 2-2 replaced by Robbie Keane (52 mins)
V Holland (h) 01/09/01 1-0 replaced by Steve Finnan (60 mins)
V Iran (h) 10/11/01 2-0
V Iran (a) 15/11/01 0-1 replaced by Clinton Morrison (78 mins)
V Russia (h) 13/02/02 2-0 replaced by Richard Sadlier (73 mins)
V Denmark (h) 27/03/02 3-0 replaced by David Connolly (77 mins)
V USA (h) 17/04/02 2-1 replaced by Clinton Morrison (82 mins)
V Nigeria (h) 16/05/02 1-2 replaced by Clinton Morrison (60 mins)
V Cameroon (n) 01/06/02 1-1
V Germany (n) 05/06/02 1-1
V Saudi Arabia (n) 11/06/02 3-0
V Spain (n) 16/06/02 1-1
V Finland (a) 21/08/02 0-3 replaced by Jim Goodwin (83 mins)
V Russia (a) 07/09/02 2-4
V Switzerland (h) 16/10/02 1-2
V Albania (a) 02/04/03 0-0 replaced by Gary Doherty (70 mins)
V Norway (h) 30/04/03 1-0 replaced by Glen Crowe (89 mins)
V Albania (h) 07/06/03 2-1
V Georgia (h) 11/06/03 2-0
V Australia (h) 19/09/03 2-1 replaced by David Connolly (44 mins)
V Switzerland (a) 11/10/03 0-2
V Canada (h) 18/11/03 3-0
V Brazil (h) 18/02/04 0-0
V Czech (h) 31/03/04 2-1
V Romania (h) 27/05/04 1-0
V Nigeria (n) 29/05/04 0-3 replaced by Graham Barrett (83 mins)
V Holland (a) 05/06/04 1-0
V Cyprus (h) 04/09/04 3-0