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The legendary Irish football player, Robbie Keane, said Wednesday that his career had exceeded all his hopes when he was a "crazy football boy growing up in Dublin".
The 38-year-old – his country's top scorer on 68 – Niall Quinn, next with 21 – will focus on his new role as deputy manager of new Irish coach Mick McCarthy.
Keane, who replaces Roy Keane (no relation) after the dismissal of his manager, Martin O'Neill, last week, was captain of Ireland for a decade.
"Today, after 23 wonderful years, I officially announce my retirement as a professional footballer," Keane said in a statement.
"From Crumlin United around the world to Milan, London and Los Angeles, I would never have imagined the path that my football life was going to take.
"It exceeded all the hopes I had as a crazy football kid who grew up in Dublin."
Keane, unlike his namesake, had good relations with McCarthy during his first stint as head of the national team.
He was one of their stars at the 2002 World Cup – who was infamous for the fact that their only world-clbad player, Roy Keane, was sent home after launching an abuse tirade against McCarthy. -, where the Irish have won on penalties in the last 16.
Keane also had a very successful, although peripatetic, career in the club, which ended with a season of player / manager at ATK Indian training, during the season that ended in March. .
In total, Keane scored 126 goals in 349 Premier League matches, including 91 for Tottenham Hotspur, although he also had experiences with Coventry, Leeds United and Liverpool in the elite league.
"Leaving the house at age 15 to continue my professional career in England seems to be a life since now," said Keane.
"I was a hopeful street footballer with huge ambitions and a determination to succeed.
"All I needed was a chance."
Keane had particularly warm words for his long service to his country on the field – winning 146 caps and in addition to the 2002 World Cup, also competing in two European championships.
"Playing and running my country has been the highlight of my career," said Keane.
"I have enjoyed every moment of the most incredible trip with the Irish team over a period of 18 years and, as I have already said many times, the words can not express my pride of being Irish. "
pi / pb
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