Robbie Keane is back in the news this weather as speculation grows about his future and ex-teammates pay tribute to Ireland's greatest striker.
In the London Times today, Dimitar Berbatov spoke about his famous partnership with Rob at Spurs, where their contrasting styles complemented each other perfectly.
While Berba concentrated on "running in his head" - where we're sure he was going at full pelt - Robbie took the honest-to-goodness slogger's option of running around on the pitch for real.
As Dimitar pointed out, both progressed to bigger clubs, with Robbie heading for Anfield while the Bulgarian made for Old Trafford, though neither shone in their new surroundings.
No matter, Robbie has a whopping 317 goals in senior professional football under his belt and is hungry for more. Tonight, he was in Dublin to receive a special merit award from the SWAI (Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland).
Asked to select his favourite goal for Ireland, he demurred. He couldn't choose between any of his 68 babies. For mischief's sake, we were hoping he might cite the goal Noel Hunt claimed a hand in over in Bari.
Robbie Keane given a Special Merit Award by the SWAI pic.twitter.com/IEe7vbhIhP
— James Rogers (@jamesdundalk) January 13, 2017
While there, he posed with the most prolific goalscorer in League of Ireland history, the great Brendan Bradley of Finn Harps and Derry City, who presented him with his award. A perfect time to ask him a question about those Shamrock Rovers rumours which have been doing the rounds.
Irish football's two greatest goalscorers, Robbie Keane (country) and Brendan Bradley (LOI) at tonight's @SWAInews awards pic.twitter.com/egHMvO5InI
— Mark McCadden (@markmccadden) January 13, 2017
Damien Duff was seduced by the romance of returning to his home league to end his career. Judging by his answers at the SWAI do tonight, Robbie is not going to be swayed. He will be back in Ireland for a fortnight before taking off again.
Robbie Keane says he is back home in Ireland for two weeks and then he will be somewhere else, not Shamrock Rovers then
— Marie Crowe (@mariecrowe) January 13, 2017
"Every goal I scored for Ireland was my favourite goal," - Robbie Keane. Didn't confirm rumours linking to Rovers. #fai #swai
— Colm (@ColmPhelan93) January 13, 2017
Elsewhere, tonight, Stephen Kenny was voted the SWAI Personality of the Year for the second time in three years. He modestly said he assumed Daryl Horgan would win it. A deserved victory to go with his Phillips Manager of the Year award.
