Robbie Keane
Time and time again, we were linked with a move for the Irishman, but unlike with many of those deals we actually got this one across the line, albeit only on a loan basis, when it was already too late for the signing to have done us a whole lot of good.
Keano always said he wanted to play in the Hoops, like his namesake Roy.
Numerous opportunities came and went before it finally happened, but none were realistic possibilities; this guy went for as much money as any player ever has. His combined transfer fees could have paid off a substantial chunk of what Rangers died owing the taxman.
He signed for Coventry for £6 million and then for Inter Milan for £13 million. Leeds signed him next, for £12 million and it was then, back in 2002, when we might have had our best chance when Martin O’Neill wanted him as the Elland Road club slipped into oblivion. There were discussions, that much is clear, but when he left Leeds it was to Spurs for another fat chunk of change, a £7 million fee. When he left Spurs he was miles out of our reach in terms of his transfer worth; they sold him to Liverpool for £19 million plus add-ons … astonishing, and even more so when you consider that Spurs soon paid £12 million to get him back.
Almost a year to the day (364 to be specific) he was at Celtic Park, on loan. For all that money we got to take him for six months for free. The following year, with him still out of favour, we were linked with him again. This time he opted to go to West Ham.
Following that, he went to America, where he’s been ever since aside from a brief spell on loan at Villa.
And of course, during his time in the States he’s been linked with a move several times.
Now at 36 the rumours have finally been put to bed.
We got to see him in the Hoops for one half of a year, and it was a pretty decent one at that.
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