Robbie Keane (born 8 July 1980 in Dublin) is an Irish football player, who currently stars as a striker for Tottenham Hotspur and the Republic of Ireland.
He joined Wolves as a teenager, making his first professional appearance in 1997. He played two seasons at Molineux before a transfer to Coventry City in 1999. During his tenure with Wolves, he made his first appearance for the Republic of Ireland (in 1998). After a season at Coventry, he was acquired by Internazionale, but was loaned out to Leeds United in December 2000.
Keane's loan deal became permanent in May 2001. However, Leeds' financial troubles forced the club to sell many of its young players, and Keane was sold to Spurs just before the 2002-03 season, where he has played ever since.
Keane has recently become the Republic's top goalscorer at international level; his 23 goals (as of 13 October 2004) surpass Niall Quinn's record of 21. He has one of the more distinctive goal celebrations in the modern game, running to one side of the field to perform a round-off to a front somersault on the pitch, ending on one knee, and then raising his right fist skyward. His most famous goal to date was the injury-time equaliser against Germany in the 2002 World Cup.
Contrary to popular belief, he is NOT related to Manchester United icon and fellow Irish international Roy Keane.
