Editing Robbie Keane (section)

===Tottenham Hotspur===

====2002–2005====
{{Quote box|width=26%|align=right|quoted=1|quote=He's such a bubbly lad that anyone who meets him loves him.|source=— Glenn Hoddle on Keane's personality.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/unsorted/features/how-robbie-came-of-age-26360136.html |title=How Robbie came of age |newspaper=Irish Independent |date=14 October 2006 |access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref>}}
On signing him for Tottenham, manager [[Glenn Hoddle]] said that Keane was ideally suited to Tottenham and could make [[White Hart Lane]] his "spiritual home" for years to come.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.punditarena.com/football/english-football/sfitzpatrick/premier-league-heroes-irelands-robbie-keane/ |title=Premier League Heroes: Ireland's Robbie Keane |publisher=Pundit Arena |first=Sarah |last=Fitzpatrick |date=14 November 2014 |access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref> Keane had an impressive debut at Spurs, winning a [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]] during a 3–2 win over [[West Ham United]]. Keane's first goal for Tottenham came in a 2–1 win against [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] at [[Ewood Park]]. Although Spurs finished in a disappointing tenth place, Keane was their success story of the season, finishing as Tottenham's top scorer with 13 goals, including a spectacular hat-trick in a win over [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] at [[White Hart Lane]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Tottenham Hotspur Statistics 2002/03 |url=http://www.kickoff.co.uk/teams/?team_id=19&season=2002&area=squad |publisher=KickOff.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101190515/http://www.kickoff.co.uk/teams/?team_id=19&season=2002&area=squad |archive-date=1 November 2013}}</ref>

In the [[2003–04 in English football|2003–04 season]], Spurs battled with relegation, but Keane's goals played a major part in helping secure Tottenham's Premier League status. A hat-trick against [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolves]],<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3247518.stm |title=Keane inspires Spurs rout |website=BBC Sport |date=6 December 2003 |access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2426513/Wolves-sunk-by-Keane-hat-trick.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2426513/Wolves-sunk-by-Keane-hat-trick.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Wolves sunk by Keane hat-trick |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |first=Trevor |last=Haylett |date=7 December 2003 |access-date=8 August 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and a last-minute penalty to equalise in the [[North London derby]] against [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]],<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/apr/26/match.tottenhamhotspur |title=Unbeaten champions earn a place in history |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Kevin |last=McCarra |date=26 April 2004 |access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> despite Arsenal winning the [[Premier League]] at Tottenham,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/3628573.stm |title=Arsenal clinch title |website=BBC Sport |date=26 April 2004 |access-date=8 August 2014}}</ref> were highlights as Keane once again ended the season as Tottenham's top scorer with 16 goals, 14 in the league.<ref>{{cite web |title=Tottenham Hotspur Statistics 2003/04 |url=http://www.kickoff.co.uk/teams/?team_id=19&season=2003&area=squad |publisher=KickOff.co.uk |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101190759/http://www.kickoff.co.uk/teams/?team_id=19&season=2003&area=squad |archive-date=1 November 2013}}</ref>

His third season, [[2004–05 in English football|2004–05]], was more frustrating. Despite finishing with his highest return of goals in a season for Spurs, 17, he played second-fiddle to the likes of [[Jermain Defoe]], [[Frédéric Kanouté]] and [[Mido (footballer)|Mido]] for much of the season.<ref name="Factfile" /> The frustration culminated in Keane storming from the dugout towards the end of a game against [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] in April 2005 after all the substitutes had been used, meaning he would not get a chance to appear. He was fined £10,000 and forced to train with the reserves after the outburst and his future at the club was thrown into doubt.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/4404793.stm |title=Arnesen issues warning to Keane |website=BBC Sport |date=4 April 2005 |access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref>

[[File:Robbie Keane Penalty.jpg|thumb|upright|280px|Keane stepping up to take a penalty against [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] at [[White Hart Lane]] in December 2005]]

The [[2005–06 in English football|2005–06 season]] started as the previous one had ended, with Defoe being preferred to partner Mido in Tottenham's strikeforce. However, Defoe's strike-rate continued to disappoint and Keane's persistence paid off in November when manager [[Martin Jol]] eventually gave Keane a chance to replace Defoe and stake his claim.<ref name="Factfile" /> By March, he had overtaken Mido as the top goalscorer at the club. Keane went on to finish the season with 16 league goals — making him the [[Premier League]]'s joint fourth-highest goalscorer that season. He had also been made the [[Captain (association football)|vice-captain]], taking the captaincy on occasions when [[Ledley King]] was not available.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/4572704.stm |title=Jol rejects Keane's Celtic link |website=BBC Sport |date=31 December 2005 |access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref> Keane was involved in a training ground fight with teammate [[Edgar Davids]] in December 2005, but the pair subsequently made up publicly and were seen encouraging each other on the pitch.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2005/1205/tottenham.html |title=Spurs take no action in Keane and Davids row |website=RTÉ Sport |date=5 December 2005 |access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref>

====2006–2008====
In February 2006, Inter's owner and president, [[Massimo Moratti]], admitted his regret at letting Keane go after being impressed by his performances at Tottenham.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11675_2366811,00.html |title=Inter's Robbie regret |publisher=[[Sky Sports]] |first=Adam |last=Marshall |date=10 February 2006 |access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref> Keane extended his commitment to Tottenham, signing a new four-year contract in March 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/4771712.stm |title=Keane signs new contract at Spurs |website=BBC Sport |date=3 March 2006 |access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref> Keane was named as one of ten Spurs squad members to be struck down by [[norovirus]] on 6 May 2006. However, he still managed to play in their final game of the season against [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/4761715.stm |title=Doubt over Spurs 'food poisoning' |website=BBC Sport |date=11 May 2006 |access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref>

Keane had a slow start to the [[2006–07 Tottenham Hotspur F.C. season|2006–07 season]] which was further set back by a knee ligament injury that Keane suffered against [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] on 5 December 2006.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/keano-blow-061206/ |title=Keano Blow |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |date=6 December 2006 |access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref> His coming back from injury marked the beginning of a return to form and a dynamic partnership with [[Dimitar Berbatov]]. Keane and Berbatov were jointly awarded the [[Premier League Player of the Month|Premier League's Player of the Month Award]] for April 2007.<ref name="joint award">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/6631841.stm |title=Keane & Berbatov win April award |website=BBC Sport |date=7 May 2007 |access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref> Keane finished the season with a total of 22 goals in all competitions — the highest-ever season tally of his career — scoring 15 goals in his last 15 appearances of the season.

Keane made his 200th appearance for Tottenham in the final game of the [[2006–07 FA Premier League|2006–07 season]] against [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] scoring the first goal in a 2–1 victory that saw Tottenham secure fifth place in the league.

He signed a new five-year contract with Tottenham on 28 May 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.irishexaminer.com/archives/2007/0529/sport/aposinfluentialapos-keane-signs-new-five-year-spurs-deal-33814.html |title='Influential' Keane signs new five-year Spurs deal |newspaper=Irish Examiner |first=Mike |last=McGrath |date=29 May 2007 |access-date=13 January 2017}}</ref> On 26 December 2007, he became the thirteenth player in the history of the league to score 100 [[Premier League]] goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/739282-robbie-keane-biography-14-years-of-a-legend-being-taken-for-granted |title=Robbie Keane Biography: 14 Years of a Legend Being Taken for Granted |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |publisher=[[Turner Sports]] |date=18 June 2011 |access-date=23 August 2020}}</ref> 2007 proved to be a remarkable year for the striker with a total of 31 goals and 13 assists from just 40 starts. His tally of 19 league goals in the calendar year was the highest of any player in the Premier League throughout 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tottenhamhotspur.com/news/robbies-no-1-in-07-301207/ |title=Robbie's No 1 in '07! |publisher=Tottenham Hotspur F.C. |date=30 December 2007 |access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref>

He scored his 100th competitive goal for Tottenham in the 2–0 win against [[Sunderland A.F.C|Sunderland]] on 19 January 2008, becoming the fifteenth Tottenham player to achieve this feat. On 24 February 2008, he won his first senior honour as a player as his Tottenham side won the first [[2008 Football League Cup Final|League Cup Final]] to be played at the new [[Wembley Stadium]], beating [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] 2–1 after extra time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/7256729.stm |title=Tottenham 2–1 Chelsea |website=BBC Sport |first=Jonathon |last=Stevenson |date=24 February 2008 |access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref> On 12 April 2008, Keane made his 250th appearance for Spurs in the 1–1 draw with [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]. Keane finished the 2007–08 season equal top scorer for Spurs with Berbatov, with 23 goals in all competitions. His 15 Premier League goals making him the first Spurs player to score double figures in the Premier League in 6 consecutive seasons.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/trapattonikeane-marriage-a-match-made-in-heaven-1385791.html |title=Trapattoni-Keane marriage a match made in heaven |newspaper=[[Irish Independent]] |first=David |last=Kelly |date=24 May 2008 |access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref> Keane won Player of the Year three times during his Tottenham career (2003, 2005–06 and 2007–08); the first player to do so.<ref name="10Things" />

His consistency and strike-rate attracted the attention of Premier League rivals Liverpool. Despite initial resistance to the sale and accusations of misconduct,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/jul/02/premierleague.liverpool |title=Liverpool's Keane bid encounters difficulties |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Andy |last=Hunter |date=2 July 2008 |access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref><ref name="Complaint">{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/t/tottenham_hotspur/7514933.stm |title=Tottenham submit Berbatov Dossier |website=BBC Sport |date=21 July 2008 |access-date=30 July 2008}}</ref> Tottenham agreed to a £20.3&nbsp;million deal for the player.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/robbie-keane-joins-liverpool-in-pound20m-deal-dww6hrj37t9 |title=Robbie Keane joins Liverpool in £20m deal |newspaper=The Times |first=James |last=Ducker |date=29 July 2008 |access-date=6 December 2019}}</ref>