Matt Murray: Retired Robbie Keane will be remembered as one of Wolves' best
Wolves great Matt Murray has hailed former team-mate Robbie Keane as ‘one of the best players of his generation’ after the striker announced his retirement.
Keane, who rose through the youth ranks at Molineux with former shot-stopper Murray, has hung up his boots at the age of 38.
He made his professional debut for Wolves before spells with Coventry, Inter Milan, Leeds, Tottenham, Liverpool, Celtic, West Ham, LA Galaxy, Villa and ATK.
Ireland’s all-time top scorer, with 68 goals, is now part of their coaching staff – under Mick McCarthy.
Murray knew Keane would end up a ‘special’ player after witnessing him shine in an overseas tournament when they were teenagers.
“Keano got player of the tournament over in Holland against teams like Ajax,” said Murray, who was best man at Keane’s wedding, while Keane is the godfather to Murray’s daughter, Imogen.
“I just looked at him then and thought ‘how special is he?’
“Robbie was a street footballer if you like. He learned how to play on the streets of Tallaght.
“He came into the academy quite late but then got into the first team very quickly – and he was unreal.”
Keane struck 29 times in 87 Wolves appearances before becoming the Premier League’s 14th all-time top scorer, with 126.
“He scored twice on his debut against Norwich and I remember a game against Bury where he picked up the ball on the halfway line, drove with it and finished it off,” said Murray.
“He could go on his right foot or his left foot.
“Keano wasn’t the biggest or strongest, but he made up for that with his pace and cleverness.
“He is one of the best players to come through the Wolves academy. A real entertainer.
“He is one of the best players of his generation.
“The goals he has scored, especially for Ireland, where he wouldn’t have had loads of chances, proves that.”
Keane scored a hat-trick against Wolves for Spurs, and a double against them for Villa, later on in his career – but did not celebrate those strikes.
Murray insists that spoke volumes of his respect for the club, and the old gold faithful.
“Robbie knows Wolves played a huge part in his career,” said Murray.
“The club has always had a special place in his heart.
“He scored a hat-trick back at Molineux for Spurs and then scored a couple for Villa as well, but he didn’t celebrate out of respect – he has always been humbled by the reception from the Wolves fans.
“I’ve said to him a few times ‘do you realise the career you’ve had?’
“He would always just say he was looking at the next thing, but now he can maybe step back and realise the career he has had.”
Murray added: “Now he’s on to the next chapter and I know Robbie is determined to learn a lot from Mick and Terry Connor, who are both fantastic.
“There is a real Wolves connection going into the Ireland set-up now and we’ll be keeping an eye out, hoping they can reach Euro 2020.”
