It seems like it happened in a parallel universe, Robbie Keane playing in the Serie A. Granted, Ireland's record goalscorer has had so many clubs that it can be hard to remember them all, but the time he joined the Inter Milan side of Seedorf, Zanetti and Ronaldo as a 20-year-old seems like a particularly hazy memory.
Maybe it was because he only lasted until Christmas of his first season before being sent out on loan by his future Ireland coach Marco Tardelli. The man who signed him, the legendary Marcelo Lippi, had been sacked earlier in the season.
Keane scored three goals in 14 games for Inter but didn't net a single time in the league. He will always have this sublime lobbed effort from the Supercoppa Italiana though. Lazio won the game 4-3 but this cheeky flick was exceptional.
His celebration was in great nick back then too. It is a real pity that Inter only gave Keane a few months. Sure, he has had a lengthy career at a top level anyway but had he achieved something of note in Milan it would add considerable weight to his already stellar goal-scoring legacy.
After a bit of detective work, we've been able to recover Keane's two other goals for Inter. Neither are as slick as the above lob unfortunately.
One was a tap-in against Polish side Ruch Chorzow in the Uefa Cup and the other was a neat finish against Lecce in the Coppa Italia.
There's something cool about watching an Irish player netting for a legitimately top team, no?
