1. Club achievements
KEANE WON THE MLS Cup for the second year running with LA Galaxy, consolidating his status as a club legend with a number of vital goals along the way including the winner in the final.
During his side’s successful campaign, he scored 20 goals and made 14 assists, proving himself to be one of — if not the most — influential players in the league.
2. He earned the respect of his colleagues
Robbie Keane was named the MLS MVP for his efforts this season — an incredible achievement whatever way you look it.
Granted, the league is not on the same level as Europe’s top footballing countries’ domestic competitions, but the Irish striker’s achievements should not be diminished owing to its flaws.
Moreover, look at who he beat to earn the award: Thierry Henry, Jermaine Defoe, Clint Dempsey, Landon Donovan — all top players on their day.
And coach Bruce Arena paid a particularly glowing tribute to Keane after he led the Galaxy to MLS glory, saying: “That’s the greatness of Robbie Keane, he scores the goal that makes the difference… He should be the player-manager of this team. He’s a special leader, a great player, a real friend and team-mate.”
3. He had ample opportunities to show off his talent to his young son
4. He announced his triumphant homecoming to Tallaght
5. He became the leading goalscorer in international football
Keane’s Ireland form was admittedly far from exemplary in 2014. He was hampered by a number of difficult away fixtures in which goalscoring chances were few and far between and a lone frontman role he was plainly ill-suited to. In addition, he was bizarrely dropped for the Scotland game despite O’Neill opting for two up front, and the veteran star clearly was less than happy as a result.
However, on the plus side, he did achieve the significant feat of becoming the leading goalscorer in international football, owing to the respective retirements of Miroslav Klose and Didier Drogba.
He then went on to score more to take his tally to an incredible 65 goals in 136 appearances, dwarfing Niall Quinn’s previous record of 21 goals.
The 35-year-old also moved to within three goals of breaking Gerd Muller’s all-time record of 68, and became the top scorer in Euro qualifying history after his hat-trick against Gibraltar.
6. For Christmas, his son got sent this cool guitar from Niall Horan of One Direction fame
https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=770133166404280
7. He earned a lot of money
Keane is one of the designated players (i.e. players outside the team’s salary cap) that LA Galaxy are entitled to, with much of the rest of the side effectively populated by journeymen coupled with talented youngsters.
The Ireland star is understood to have earned approximately $4.5million this year, with most of his team-mates earning just a fraction of this salary.
Nevertheless, it’s still considerably less than what the league’s highest paid stars — Kaka ($7.2million) and Clint Dempsey ($6.7million) — reportedly earn.
