Speaking to Balls.ie in July, Harry Redknapp sang the praises of Robbie Keane, and used his experience in Major League Soccer with L.A. Galaxy as proof of his better nature. Here's the quote, replete with some magnificent mixing of metaphors:
He is] one of the great players. Great character. He's gone to America and he is still a superstar. He could have gone over there and just taken the money, but that's Robbie. He only knows one way: to work his socks off every time he puts his shirt on, every time he puts his boots on. He has been an amazing player.
'He works his socks off every time he puts his boots' is one of our favourite quotes. That said, Keane's consistency of effort and output in MLS has been remarkable. Keane joined LA Galaxy as one of their designated players, alongside Landon Donovan and David Beckham. Whereas Beckham once skipped training to attend the Royal Wedding, Keane's professionalism has been exemplary, and the Galaxy have borne the fruits of their investment in the Dubliner.
In Keane's time at the club they've won the MLS Cup thrice, with Keane an integral part: he was voted MVP of both the MLS regular season and the MLS Cup in 2014.
Such is the regularity of new filtering over the Atlantic of another Keane goal, it has been easy to lose sight of the bigger picture, and get a full perspective of Keane's incredible contribution.
Chris Glidden of Los Angeles has offered this perspective, by totalling Keane's MLS stats. They are absolutely insane:
Updated Keane stats: 116 appearances, 80 goals, 44 assists, 23 game-winning goals, 16 game-winning assists and 19 multi-goal games. #PORvLA
— Chris Glidden (@cwglidden) July 23, 2016
Extraordinary. Keane can lay a rightful claim to being the most important Designated Player import in MLS history.
LA Galaxy agree, and we understand that Keane is close to signing a two-year contract extension with the club. Should he sign the contract, it will mean Keane will play with Galaxy for seven seasons, and will take him up to his 38th birthday.
An unidentified fan no longer.
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