Robbie Keane has been retired for 38 years

LONDON (Reuters) – Irish Irish football player Robbie Keane announced his retirement on Wednesday, saying his career spanned more than two decades.

The 38-year-old is the top scorer in the history of the Republic of Ireland with 68 goals, far ahead of Niall Quinn, second, 21-year-old. He will focus his efforts on his new duties as assistant to his new coach Neil McCarthy.

He has been captain for a decade. "Today, 23 years later, I officially announced the retirement of professional football," he said in a statement.

"From Cromlin United to different parts of the world like Milan, London and Los Angeles, I had not imagined this trend during my football career." I missed everything I had dreamed about in as a crazy footballer when I grew up in Dublin. "

Keane scored 126 goals in 349 Premiership games, including 90 goals with Tottenham Hotspur, while defending Liverpool, Leeds United and Coventry.