Robert David Keane (born 8 July 1980) is an Irish professionalfootball coach and formerplayer, currently the head coach ofNB I clubFerencváros.[3] Widely considered one of Ireland's greatest ever footballers, Keane played as astriker, and wascaptain of theRepublic of Ireland from March 2006 until his international retirement in August 2016. He is the most capped player and top goalscorer for Ireland.
Keane began his career atWolverhampton Wanderers, scoring twice on his first-team debut aged 17. The following season, he was the club's leading goalscorer and scored his first international goal for Ireland. He changed club frequently between 1999 and 2002, breaking transfer fee records, but his brief spells atInter Milan andLeeds United were unexceptional. He joinedTottenham Hotspur in 2002 and played there for seven and a half years over two spells, amassing 306 appearances and 122 goals across all competitions. The2007–08 season was the most fruitful of his career as he set a career record of 23 goals in a season, including a landmark 100th competitive goal, and won his first senior honour (theLeague Cup).
Keane moved toLiverpool in July 2008 but he spent only six months at the club before returning to Tottenham, where he was made first team captain. In January 2010, he moved on loan toScottish Premier League sideCeltic for the rest of the season, and spent the second half of the following season loaned toWest Ham United. He left Tottenham forLA Galaxy in 2011, and in January 2012 went toAston Villa on a two-month loan during theMajor League Soccer (MLS) off-season. He departed LA Galaxy in 2016 having scored 104 goals across six seasons, before a short stint with Indian clubATK. Keane announced his retirement from professional football in November 2018. In total, he scored 126 Premier League goals for six clubs, which ranks him as the17th-most successful goalscorer in the history of the Premier League.
Over an 18-year international career, Keane won 146 caps and scored 68 goals for the Republic of Ireland, both a national record. Keane is thejoint seventh-highest European international goalscorer of all time, and the only player in football history to have scored at least one international goal in 19 consecutive years.[4] Keane was the Republic of Ireland's top scorer at the2002 FIFA World Cup with three goals as they reached the last 16, and also played atUEFA Euro 2012 andUEFA Euro 2016. Throughout his club and international career he was known for hisgoal celebration where he performed a cartwheel followed by a forward roll.[5]
After announcing his retirement from playing, Keane began his coaching career with the Ireland senior team as assistant manager underMick McCarthy's management setup in November 2018. He also took on the role of assistant manager atChampionship club Middlesbrough in 2019, with his former teammateJonathan Woodgate as manager. He left both roles in 2020. He became the head coach ofMaccabi Tel Aviv in June 2023, winning theIsraeli Premier League andToto Cup in his only season. He became the manager of Ferencvaros in January 2025 and won the Hungarian title at the end of the season.
Robert David Keane was born and raised inTallaght,Dublin,[6] the son of Anne and Robert Keane. He started his football career with local club Fettercairn before joining Dublin schoolboy teamCrumlin United at the age of 10, where his talent was seen and recognised at an early age.[7] He also playedGaelic football until he was 15, before giving it up to pursue a football career.[8] Keane received offers from bothLiverpool andWolverhampton Wanderers, but decided to go to theFirst Division side, judging that it would be harder to break into the first team at Liverpool.[9] He moved to Wolverhampton four days before his 16th birthday in July 1996, joining their youth team.[10][11]
Keane progressed through Wolves' youth ranks and made his professional debut aged 17 on 9 August 1997, scoring twice againstNorwich City.[12] The following season he excelled at the club, earning praise from both the press and Wolves managerColin Lee.[13] He went on to be the club's leading scorer, with 16 goals in the1998–99 season.[9] Keane's performances and goalscoring record with both Wolves and hisnational team attracted much interest from larger clubs and a move for the young striker seemed imminent given Wolves' finances.[14][15] However, with three years left on his contract, Wolves sought a high price for their Irish star and managing directorJohn Richards stated his reluctance to sell Keane unless their asking price was met.[16]
Just weeks into the1999–2000 season, he was sold toPremier League clubCoventry City for £6 million, then a British record for a teenager.[17] Keane got off to a great start, scoring two goals on his debut againstDerby County.[18] During a successful season at Coventry, he played a major role in a stylish attacking side boasting the likes ofGary McAllister,Mustapha Hadji andYoussef Chippo and formed a productive strike partnership withCédric Roussel.[19] Keane played in a total of 34 games, scoring 12 goals, all of which came in the Premier League.[20]
After an impressive first season in the Premier League, Keane was signed by ItalianSerie A clubInter Milan for a fee of £13 million in July 2000, signing a five-year contract.[21][22][23] However, Keane's dream move to Italy soon soured when managerMarcello Lippi was sacked. Lippi's successor,Marco Tardelli, deemed Keane to be surplus to requirements and in December 2000, he was loaned out toLeeds United.[24] Keane made 14 appearances for Inter in all competitions scoring three goals, his most memorable coming two minutes into theSupercoppa Italiana match againstLazio. He also scored againstRuch Chorzów in theUEFA Cup[25] andLecce in theCoppa Italia.[26]
His Leeds career got off to an impressive start, scoring nine goals in 14 starts for the club before the Leeds manager,David O'Leary, made his loan deal permanent in May 2001 at an original cost of £12 million.[27] Thefollowing season was not so bright, and he found himself dropping down the pecking order. His form suffered and he managed only nine goals in 33 appearances, three of them in a 6–0League Cup win atLeicester City on 9 October 2001.[28]
Meanwhile, Leeds sunk deeper into debt and were forced to sell many players, with Keane joining the exodus when he was sold toTottenham Hotspur just before the2002–03 transfer deadline for a fee of £7 million.[29]
On signing him for Tottenham, managerGlenn Hoddle said that Keane was ideally suited to Tottenham and could makeWhite Hart Lane his "spiritual home" for years to come.[31] Keane had an impressive debut at Spurs, winning apenalty during a 3–2 win overWest Ham United. Keane's first goal for Tottenham came in a 2–1 win againstBlackburn Rovers atEwood Park. Although Spurs finished in a disappointing tenth place, Keane was their success story of the season, finishing as Tottenham's top scorer with 13 goals, including a spectacular hat-trick in a win overEverton atWhite Hart Lane.[32]
In the2003–04 season, Spurs battled with relegation, but Keane's goals played a major part in helping secure Tottenham's Premier League status. A hat-trick againstWolves,[33][34] and a last-minute penalty to equalise in theNorth London derby againstArsenal,[35] despite Arsenal winning thePremier League at Tottenham,[36] were highlights as Keane once again ended the season as Tottenham's top scorer with 16 goals, 14 in the league.[37]
His third season,2004–05, was more frustrating. Despite finishing with his highest return of goals in a season for Spurs, 17, he played second-fiddle to the likes ofJermain Defoe,Frédéric Kanouté andMido for much of the season.[6] The frustration culminated in Keane storming from the dugout towards the end of a game againstBirmingham City in April 2005 after all the substitutes had been used, meaning he would not get a chance to appear. He was fined £10,000 and forced to train with the reserves after the outburst and his future at the club was thrown into doubt.[38]
The2005–06 season started as the previous one had ended, with Defoe being preferred to partner Mido in Tottenham's strikeforce. However, Defoe's strike-rate continued to disappoint and Keane's persistence paid off in November when managerMartin Jol eventually gave Keane a chance to replace Defoe and stake his claim.[6] By March, he had overtaken Mido as the top goalscorer at the club. Keane went on to finish the season with 16 league goals — making him thePremier League's joint fourth-highest goalscorer that season. He had also been made thevice-captain, taking the captaincy on occasions whenLedley King was not available.[39] Keane was involved in a training ground fight with teammateEdgar Davids in December 2005, but the pair subsequently made up publicly and were seen encouraging each other on the pitch.[40]
In February 2006, Inter's owner and president,Massimo Moratti, admitted his regret at letting Keane go after being impressed by his performances at Tottenham.[41] Keane extended his commitment to Tottenham, signing a new four-year contract in March 2006.[42] Keane was named as one of ten Spurs squad members to be struck down bynorovirus on 6 May 2006. However, he still managed to play in their final game of the season againstWest Ham United.[43]
Keane had a slow start to the2006–07 season which was further set back by a knee ligament injury that Keane suffered againstMiddlesbrough on 5 December 2006.[44] His coming back from injury marked the beginning of a return to form and a dynamic partnership withDimitar Berbatov. Keane and Berbatov were jointly awarded thePremier League's Player of the Month Award for April 2007.[45] Keane finished the season with a total of 22 goals in all competitions — the highest-ever season tally of his career — scoring 15 goals in his last 15 appearances of the season.
Keane made his 200th appearance for Tottenham in the final game of the2006–07 season againstManchester City scoring the first goal in a 2–1 victory that saw Tottenham secure fifth place in the league.
He signed a new five-year contract with Tottenham on 28 May 2007.[46] On 26 December 2007, he became the thirteenth player in the history of the league to score 100Premier League goals.[47] 2007 proved to be a remarkable year for the striker with a total of 31 goals and 13 assists from just 40 starts. His tally of 19 league goals in the calendar year was the highest of any player in the Premier League throughout 2007.[48]
He scored his 100th competitive goal for Tottenham in the 2–0 win againstSunderland on 19 January 2008, becoming the fifteenth Tottenham player to achieve this feat. On 24 February 2008, he won his first senior honour as a player as his Tottenham side won the firstLeague Cup Final to be played at the newWembley Stadium, beatingChelsea 2–1 after extra time.[49] On 12 April 2008, Keane made his 250th appearance for Spurs in the 1–1 draw withMiddlesbrough. Keane finished the 2007–08 season equal top scorer for Spurs with Berbatov, with 23 goals in all competitions. His 15 Premier League goals making him the first Spurs player to score double figures in the Premier League in 6 consecutive seasons.[50] Keane won Player of the Year three times during his Tottenham career (2003, 2005–06 and 2007–08); the first player to do so.[9]
His consistency and strike-rate attracted the attention of Premier League rivals Liverpool. Despite initial resistance to the sale and accusations of misconduct,[51][52] Tottenham agreed to a £20.3 million deal for the player.[53]
Liverpool publicly announced their interest in Keane on 1 July 2008.[54]Amid accusations that Liverpool had unsettled the player, Tottenham Hotspur filed a complaint to thePremier League regarding the club's conduct.[52]However, on 28 July 2008, Tottenham confirmed the sale of Keane for £19 million (plus a potential £1.3 million in performance based compensation).[55][56] Keane agreed terms with Liverpool shortly afterwards, signing a four-year contract with theMerseyside club.[57] Upon his arrival to Liverpool, Keane said, "I've been a Liverpool fan all my life, going back to when I was a kid growing up in Dublin, and I always had a Liverpool shirt on my back. So, to be here now as a Liverpool player is incredible and I couldn't be happier."[58] Following the transfer, Tottenham withdrew their official complaint against Liverpool after the club made a donation to theTottenham Hotspur Foundation and apologised for their behaviour prior to the deal.[59] Tottenham chairmanDaniel Levy publicly stated his dissatisfaction, saying he had been forced into transferring the player due to Liverpool's interference.[60]
Keane was given the squad number 7, and scored his first goal for Liverpool on 1 October 2008 in a Champions League win againstPSV Eindhoven at Anfield.[61] A second Champions League goal quickly followed with Keane scoring the opening goal in Liverpool's 1–1 draw withAtlético Madrid.[62] Premier League goals were less forthcoming but he scored twice for Liverpool againstWest Bromwich Albion on 8 November.[63]
Six weeks passed before Keane scored again but it was a crucial equaliser againstArsenal, giving Liverpool a 1–1 away draw against their league rivals.[64] In the following Premier League match againstBolton, Keane scored two more league goals to seal a 3–0 win for Liverpool.[65] Despite this he failed to establish himself as a first team regular and when he did play was often played out of position. During the Januarytransfer window, Tottenham Hotspur made an approach for the striker and Liverpool accepted the offer, allowing the Irishman to return to his former club for a fee of £12 million, £7 million less than Liverpool had paid for him.[66][67][68]
Keane playing against Chelsea on 21 March 2009 atWhite Hart Lane
Keane rejoined Tottenham on 2 February 2009, signing for a basic fee of £12 million, potentially rising to £16 million with add-ons.[69] The deal meant that the cumulative transfer fees paid for Keane over his career amounted to around £75 million.[70]He signed a four-year contract with the north London club.[71] Keane was one of three players to make returns to Tottenham during the transfer window, along withJermain Defoe andPascal Chimbonda.[55] He was also made Tottenham vice-captain a week later,[72] after often deputising forLedley King during his first spell there.[73][74][75] He was cup-tied for Spurs' appearance in the2009 Football League Cup Final.[76] Keane scored his first goal since his return to the club on 4 March,[77] opening the scoring in the crucial 4–0 home victory against Middlesbrough.[78][79] He followed this up by scoring another vital goal, this time a last-minute equaliser, away to Sunderland in a 1–1 draw on 7 March.[80]
Soon after Keane's return to White Hart Lane, railway serviceVirgin Trains ran an advertisement with the slogan "A Liverpool to London return faster than Robbie Keane."[81] On his return to Liverpool on the final day of the season, he scored in a 3–1 defeat.[82] He received a generally warm reception from the fans despite scoring against them.[83]
On 31 July 2009, Keane captained Tottenham to winning thePremier League Asia Trophy in a pre-season competition in China. He scored twice in the 3–0 win overHull City insideBeijing Workers Stadium. On 26 September 2009, Keane scored four goals in a 5–0 win over Burnley.[84] During Tottenham'sLeague CupFourth round match, Keane scored one of two goals againstEverton on 27 October 2009 atWhite Hart Lane.[85][86] He continued his scoring form with another against Sunderland in their 2–0 home win on 7 November 2009.[87]
On 1 February 2010, Keane signed forCeltic in a loan deal until the end of the2009–10 season and was assigned the number 7 shirt, previously worn byJimmy Johnstone andHenrik Larsson.[88][89] After signing for Celtic, Keane said: "The club is massive. I am a Celtic fan and did not have to ask much about it. I always wanted to play for Celtic and it works for all parties."[88]
He made his Celtic debut in a 1–0 defeat on 2 February atRugby Park againstKilmarnock.[90] He scored his first goal for Celtic in a 4–2 victory in the fifth round of theScottish Cup againstDunfermline atEast End Park.[91] He scored his first goal in theSPL againstAberdeen in a 4–4 draw on 13 February.[92] His first goal atCeltic Park proved to be the winner againstDundee United on 20 February.[93] Keane's firstOld Firm match againstRangers was on 28 February, with Celtic losing 1–0.[94] On 13 March, Keane scored his first Celtic hat-trick in a 3–0 Scottish Cup win overKilmarnock,[95] and then scored two in a league clash against them two weeks later.[96]
Keane's penultimate match was a 2–1 Old Firm win over Rangers on 4 May.[97] His last match for Celtic came againstHearts on 9 May, he scored the first goal in a 2–1 victory.[98] He stated that he enjoyed his time at Celtic and that it had given him back his 'hunger for football'.[99]On 12 April, Keane was announced asSPL Player of the Month forMarch 2010.[100] On 19 April 2010, Keane was announced asCeltic's Fans' Player of the Year.[101]
Keane warming up for West Ham United before a match against Aston Villa in April 2011
On 30 January 2011, Keane joinedWest Ham United on loan for the remainder of theseason.[102] Keane made his debut for West Ham on 2 February in a 3–1 victory overBlackpool atBloomfield Road, scoring his first goal in the process.[103] West Ham had an option to extend the deal by two years if they avoided relegation from the Premier League.[104] However, in May 2011 West Ham were relegated and Keane returned to Tottenham.[105]
On 8 January 2012, Keane agreed to move on loan toAston Villa for two months, until thenew MLS season began in March. He trained with the Villa squad on 9 and 10 January and completed the move on the 12th.[114][115]
He made his debut atVilla Park in a 1–1 draw withEverton on 14 January, coming on as an 81st-minute substitute forStephen Warnock.[116] Keane then made his full debut in Villa's next match againstWolverhampton Wanderers, in which he scored his first two goals for the club including the winner in a 3–2 victory.[117] On 5 February, he scored the equaliser againstNewcastle United, in an eventual 2–1 loss, his third goal for Villa, in four league games.[118]
On 18 March 2012, Keane scored twice in a 3–1 home win overD.C. United for the Galaxy's first win of the season.[119] In July, with five goals including consecutivebraces, he was votedMLS Player of the Month.[120] He finished with 16 regular season goals, fourth in the league's top scorers, and was one of three strikers named in theMLS Best XI, alongsideThierry Henry andChris Wondolowski.[121] His two goals in a 4–2 win overToronto on 22 September sealed a place in the2012 MLS Cup Playoffs.[122]In the Conference Semifinals, Keane scored twice in a 3–1 second leg win over San Jose, as the Galaxy recovered from a 1–0 home loss in the first match.[123] Against theSeattle Sounders in the Conference Final, he scored another two goals in a 3–0 first leg win, and a late penalty in a 2–1 loss in the second leg atCenturyLink Field.[124] Keane scored a last-minute penalty to complete a 3–1 win in the2012 MLS Cup, once again against Houston Dynamo.[125]
Keane in action for LA Galaxy in 2013
At the start of the2013 season, in the absence of Donovan, Keane was promoted to captain by head coachBruce Arena.[126] On opening day, he had a part in each goal as Galaxy beat theChicago Fire 4–0 at home, assisting a hat-trick forMike Magee before himself finding the net in added time.[127] On 26 May, he scored his first MLS hat-trick in a 4–0 rout of Seattle,[128] and he recorded another on 27 August in a 4–2 comeback win over Salt Lake, putting him on 10 goals for the season;[129] he was the league's Player of the Month in August.[130]Keane scored twice in a 5–0 win over Chivas on 6 October, the first and last goals of the victory.[131] For the second consecutive season, he made the MLS Best XI, as recognition for his 16 goals and 11 assists, statistics which put him fourth and third on the respective top scorer lists.[132]
On 6 March 2014, Keane signed a new multi-year contract extension with LA Galaxy.[133] For the third season in a row he reached double figures in goals, scoring his tenth on 20 July in a 2–1 loss atSporting KC.[134] Keane scored his 50th MLS regular-season goal on 28 September, chippingNew York Red Bulls goalkeeperLuis Robles to open a 4–0 victory.[135]
On 3 December 2014, Keane was awarded theMLS Most Valuable Player Award after a season in which he recorded a career high 19 goals and 14 assists in 29 appearances.[136] Four days later, he scored the 111th-minute winner in the2014 MLS Cup which the Galaxy won 2–1 against theNew England Revolution for a record fifth title.[137] Keane was given the MLS Cup MVP award, similar to the Man Of The Match award.
After the announcement that his former Liverpool teammateSteven Gerrard would join the Galaxy in July 2015, Keane confirmed that he would not hand over the captaincy.[138] He scored the second goal of the 2–0 home win over Chicago in their first game of the season on 7 March.[139] On 17 June, Keane scored a hat-trick in the fourth round of theLamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, as the Galaxy won 6–1 against fifth-tier amateursPSA Elite.[140]On 5 July, Keane scored a hat-trick in a 4–0 win over Toronto.[141] Twelve days later, in Gerrard's first match, he scored three goals for the second consecutive game including two penalties with Gerrard also netting in a 5–2 win against San Jose.[142]
On 6 March 2016, Keane scored from the penalty spot in the opening2016 league fixture; a 4–1 home win against D.C. United.[143] He followed that up with another successful penalty on 19 March in the 3–1 home victory against San Jose.[144] After missing five games with a knee injury, Keane returned on 8 May to face New England Revolution and scored twice in the 4–2 home win.[145]Keane scored his 80th MLS regular-season goal on 23 July in a 2–1 away win againstPortland Timbers with a simple tap-in from close range.[146]On 11 September, he scored Galaxy's fourth goal in their 4–2 home win overOrlando City.[147] He scored twice in a 4–2 home defeat against Seattle Sounders on 25 September for his ninth and tenth goals of the season.[148]In November, Keane stated that he would be leaving LA Galaxy after his contract expired at the end of the season, but that he would not be retiring.[149] In total, he scored 104 goals in 165 appearances during his six seasons with the club with his last game being the MLS Cup Playoff penalty-shootout defeat toColorado Rapids on 6 November 2016.[150][151]
On 4 August 2017, Keane signed forIndian Super League teamATK joining former teammateTeddy Sheringham, the team's head coach. He said that the opportunity to play in a new league appealed to him.[152] He was assigned the number 10 jersey and appointed as theclub captain.[153] However, he suffered an achilles injury during a pre-season training camp inDubai and had to return home for treatment, ruling him out of action until December.[154] Spanish defenderJordi was appointed as the captain in his absence.[155] On 7 December, he made his first-team debut, coming on as a 61st-minute substitute in a 3–2 defeat againstChennaiyin.[156] On 23 December, he scored his first goal in a 1–0 victory against theDelhi Dynamos.[157][158]
Keane was appointed player-manager of ATK in March 2018 after Sheringham and his replacementAshley Westwood were sacked with ATK finishing outside the play-offs. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win overNorthEast United on his managerial debut, enough to save them from last place.[159] After contesting the final three matches as player-manager, Keane decided to leave the club at the end of the season and stated he would be taking time out to consider his options.[160] He officially announced his retirement on 28 November 2018.[161]
Keane with the Republic of Ireland national team in 2004
Keane was part of the so-called "golden generation" of Irish youth football of the late 1990s.[162]
Under the guidance ofBrian Kerr, the unfancied Republic of Ireland won theUEFAU16 andU18 European championships in 1998, and Keane was part of the victorious U18 side in Cyprus.[163] In 1999, he played at theWorld Youth Cup in Nigeria, where the Republic of Ireland reached the last 16 before going out onpenalties to the hosts.[164] His first Republic of Ireland cap came against theCzech Republic inOlomouc in March 1998.[165] He scored his first senior international goals againstMalta in October that year.[166]
Keane was selected byMick McCarthy as part of the Republic of Ireland squad for the2002 FIFA World Cup in South Korea and Japan, scoring three goals in the Republic of Ireland's four games. Keane scored an injury-timeequaliser againstGermany in the group stage match as the Irish surprised many by holding the former champions to a 1–1 draw.[167] This was the first of only three goals which Germany conceded in the tournament (the other two were scored inthe final by Brazil'sRonaldo). In the Round of 16 match againstSpain, he scored a last-minute penalty to force the game into extra-time and a penalty shootout after the Irish had gone a goal down early in the first half, but eventually lost 3–2 on penalties.[168]
Keane became the Republic of Ireland's leading goalscorer during a match against theFaroe Islands on 13 October 2004 when he scored his 22nd and 23rd goals. The first of these goals brokeNiall Quinn's record of 21 goals.[169]
Although the Republic of Ireland failed to qualify for the2006 FIFA World Cup, Keane scored four goals in the Republic of Ireland's eight qualifying matches. FollowingSteve Staunton's appointment as Republic of Ireland manager, Keane was appointedcaptain.[170] In their first game under Staunton, Keane scored the second goal in the 3–0 victory againstSweden atLansdowne Road, and celebrated the final match at the Lansdowne Road stadium with a hat-trick on his 70th senior international appearance in a 5–0 defeat of San Marino on 15 November 2006.[171]Giovanni Trapattoni, who took over from Staunton, maintained Keane as team captain starting in his first game in charge againstSerbia on 24 May 2008 which ended in a 1–1 draw.[172]
As captain, Keane led the team to a second-place finish in the2010 World Cup qualifying campaign. He scored his 40th international goal against Cyprus, a header in the 83rd minute, which secured a 2–1 win for the Republic of Ireland.[citation needed] Along withDimitar Berbatov, he topped the scoring chart in the qualifying group with 5 goals in 10 games. His 41st international goal came in thecontroversial 2010 World Cup play-off with France on 18 November 2009.[173] This was his 26th goal in competitive (non-friendly) internationals.
Keane won his 100th cap againstArgentina in a 1–0 friendly defeat on 11 August 2010. This match was also the first international football match at the newAviva Stadium.[174] He scored his 45th international goal againstRussia in October 2010.[175] It was the first time the Republic of Ireland had lost a game in which Keane had scored. Previously, the Republic of Ireland had won 26 and drew 10 of the 36 games in which Keane had scored. He equalled Andy Townsend's record for most appearances as Republic of Ireland captain (40) on 26 March 2011 and also scored a goal in the process.[176][177]
Keane with the Republic of Ireland in 2011 before a match against Russia
Keane took part in the inauguralNations Cup for the Republic of Ireland, which took place in February and May 2011. He ended the tournament as top scorer, despite not having played in their first game againstWales. Keane scored three goals in total, two againstNorthern Ireland in a 5–0 victory, and what proved to be the tournament's winning goal in a 1–0 victory overScotland.[178][179] The Republic of Ireland emerged from the competition victorious, having won all three of their games without conceding a goal.[180]
On 4 June 2011, Keane scored twice in a 2–0 away win againstMacedonia in qualification forUEFA Euro 2012 to become the first Irish or British player to score more than 50 international goals.[181] Following the game with Macedonia his total stood at 51 goals. He added another two goals in the Republic of Ireland's 4–0 play-off hammering of Estonia inTallinn which effectively secured qualification for Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine to bring his goal tally to 53.[182]
After a disappointing tournament inPoland, Keane brought his international tally to 54, with an 89th-minute penalty against Kazakhstan in the Republic of Ireland's openingWorld Cup 2014 qualification match. This left the score at 1–1 beforeKevin Doyle's goal a minute later secured a winning start to the campaign.[183] On 2 June 2013, Keane scored the third and fourth goals of the game, his 55th and 56th goals for the Republic of Ireland, againstGeorgia in a 4–0 win.[184]
On 7 June 2013, Keane played his 126th game for the Republic of Ireland and became the new record appearance holder, breakingShay Given's previous record of 125 appearances. He also scored his second hat-trick of his international career in the same game against the Faroe Islands scoring his 57th, 58th and 59th goals in a 3–0 win for the Republic of Ireland.[185] Keane scored his 60th international goal against Sweden on 6 September 2013, in a 2–1 loss.[186] He went on to score his 61st and 62nd goals for the Republic of Ireland against Kazakhstan on 15 October 2013 in a 3–1 win and against Latvia a month later in a 3–0 victory, both games being played in Dublin.[187][188]
Keane missed his chance to score his 63rd goal against Costa Rica inPhiladelphia on 6 June 2014 when he missed a penalty in a friendly game.[189] He was the highest male international scorer among active players followingMiroslav Klose's retirement in 2014.[190] On 11 October 2014, he scored his third international hat-trick, his 63rd, 64th and 65th goals, in a 7–0 European qualifying win againstGibraltar at Aviva Stadium. The treble concluded with a penalty in the 18th minute. This took him to a record 21 goals in European Championship qualifiers, surpassing the 20 by Turkey'sHakan Şükür.[191] He would later extend his tally to 23 goals, although the record was broken byPortugal'sCristiano Ronaldo on 10 September 2019.[192]
Keane was selected in managerMartin O'Neill's 23-man squad forUEFA Euro 2016 in what would be his final major tournament appearance for the Republic of Ireland.[193] However, he was restricted to a bench role and only played a total of 23 minutes against Sweden andBelgium respectively.[194][195]
On 24 August 2016, Keane announced his retirement from international football.[196] His last match for the Republic of Ireland was a friendly againstOman on 31 August 2016 at Aviva Stadium. The Republic of Ireland emerged victorious 4–0 and Keane signed off with a goal to take him level with German greatGerd Müller on 68 international goals. He received a rousing ovation from the assembled crowd when he was substituted in the 57th minute.[197] Keane was also given a guard of honour from his Republic of Ireland teammates after the match had finished and he left the pitch with his two sons to rapturous applause from the home fans.[198][199]
In March 2018, Keane was appointed player-manager ofATK after Sheringham and his replacementAshley Westwood were sacked, with ATK finishing outside the play-offs. He scored the only goal in a 1–0 win overNorthEast United on his managerial debut, enough to save them from last place.[159] After contesting the final three matches as player-manager, Keane decided to leave the club at the end of the season.[160]
In November 2018, Keane agreed to act as the assistant manager of the Republic of Ireland national team, under the management of newly appointedMick McCarthy.[200]
In June 2019, he accepted the dual roles of assistant manager ofMiddlesbrough in theChampionship and the Republic of Ireland national team. His former Leeds and Tottenham teammateJonathan Woodgate, who had been appointed the manager of theTeesside-based club, offered him the role as part of a refurbished coaching team.[201][202] On 23 June 2020, Keane left his role as Middlesbrough assistant manager after his one-year contract came to an end during theCOVID-19 pandemic.[203] Keane completed UEFA coaching qualifications, receiving theUEFA Pro Licence in 2020.[204]
On 3 May 2023, Keane joined the coaching staff ofPremier League side Leeds, following the appointment ofSam Allardyce as manager.[205] However, in the aftermath of the club's relegation at the end of theseason, both Allardyce and Keane left Leeds by mutual agreement on 2 June.[206][207]
On 26 June 2023, Keane was appointed new head coach ofIsraeli Premier League sideMaccabi Tel Aviv, signing a two-year contract with the club and taking over his first managerial role.[208] His former international teammateRory Delap was named as his assistant.[209] Keane's appointment was criticised by the internationalBoycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, which urged him to join "the international athletes who fight for the rights of the Palestinians and oppose cooperating with apartheid", and bySinn FéinTDChris Andrews, who expressed disappointment that Keane had signed up with a "racist and apartheid Israeli club".[210] At his first press conference in Tel Aviv, Keane responded to a question "I don't want to get into politics. This is the last time I will say it. I'm here as a football man and someone that loves the game. I will certainly just focus on that but thanks for your question".[211]Leo Varadkar, theTaoiseach in charge of the Irish government at the time, defended Keane's right to work in Israel.[212]
Keane started his spell as manager with four wins and a draw to put Maccabi Tel Aviv on top of the league table. He was evacuated to Greece in October when theGaza war began.[213] While domestic football was cancelled, Keane's team continued playing in theUEFA Europa Conference League, resuming with a 3–1 win away to another exiled team inZorya Luhansk of Ukraine on 9 November,[214] and continuing with their home games to Serbia.[215] Keane led the club to victory in the2024 Toto Cup on 24 January 2024.[216]
Keane's team reached the last 16 of the Europa Conference League and took a 4–1 win in the first leg away to eventual winnersOlympiacos, but lost 7–5 on aggregate after extra time.[217] He won the league in his only season, taking an eight-point lead overMaccabi Haifa with two games to go.[218] At the end of the season Keane decided to leave the club.[219]
In November 2024, Keane's wife said that the family were still receiving threats from a small number of pro-Palestine activists, which had made her doubt their safety in Ireland. While he was targeted in Ireland for not leaving Israel during the war, he was also criticised within Israel for not endorsing the war.[220]
On 6 January 2025, Keane was hired as the next head coach ofFerencváros, replacingPascal Jansen.[221][222] He debuted with a 2–0 defeat fromEintracht Frankfurt at theWaldstadion in the2024–25 UEFA Europa League league phase.[223][224] Keane's home debut ended with a 4–3 victory overAZ.[225][226] Finally, Ferencváros qualified for the knock-out stage.[227] On 2 February 2025, his first league match ended with a goalless draw againstMTK in theÖrökrangadó.[228] After a 2–2 draw againstZalaegerszegi at theZTE Arena,[229] Keane's Ferencváros suffered their first defeat in theNemzeti Bajnokság I on 9 February 2025, when Ferencváros were defeated 1–0 byPuskás Akadémia at thePancho Aréna.[230] Puskás Akadémia also overtook Ferencváros on the table of the2024–25 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season. On 9 March 2025, he secured his first victory in theNemzeti Bajnokság I by beatingDebrecen 1–0 at theNagyerdei Stadion.[231] On 6 April 2025, he managed Ferencváros for the first time during theFerencváros-Újpest, also known as Budapest Derby, with a 2–0 victory over Ferencváros' arch-rival.[232][233] On 10 April 2025, his side set a record for home victory of the2024–25 Nemzeti Bajnokság I season by beatingNyíregyháza Spartacus 7–0 at theFerencváros Stadion.[234] He said in an interview with Nemzeti Sport that he had told to his players "don't stop if they can smell blood".[235] After beatingRangers 2–1 at home in the2025–26 UEFA Europa League season, Ferencváros secured their qualification for the knock-out phase. Keane said in an interview, published on Uefa.com that "I love being involved in big nights like this. I had this as a player; I get that buzz. I love what I do; I love being a manager. It’s the next best thing to playing. Tonight was special."[236] On 17 December 2025, his contract with Ferencváros was renewed.[237][238] The last match of 2025 was won by Ferencváros 1–0 againstDiósgyőri at theDiósgyőri Stadion.[239]
A quick and agile player,[240][241]Keane was also renowned for his pace,dribbling skills, and creativity, and was famed for his leadership throughout his career.[242]
Although he used manygoal celebrations throughout his career, Keane's signature goalscoring celebration involved him performing a cartwheel, followed by a forward roll, and subsequently standing up and mimicking gesture of firing pistols with his hands.[243]
Keane is an ambassador for the Children's Medical & Research Foundation inCrumlin, Dublin.[259] Accompanied by hisLA Galaxy teammates, Keane personally presented the hospital with a cheque for $50,000 from the LA Galaxy Foundation and Herbalife on 18 February 2015.[260]
Keane and his wife Claudine supported the "Our Hospital Heroes" appeal by raising money for front line workers in hospitals across Ireland, by setting up aGoFundMe page after a family member was diagnosed with COVID-19 and had to be admitted to hospital.[261] The GoFundme page has raised over €81,000 as of July 2021.
^Byrne, Luke (22 February 2013)."Heaven knows I'm happy now, says Robbie's cousin Morrissey".Irish Independent. Retrieved22 February 2013."Robbie's grandfather is a cousin to Morrissey's father." ... Morrissey stated, "Family tree aficionados will be aware that Robbie and I share the same Irish blood; his late grandfather (Thomas Nolan) being my own father's cousin".
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