Editing Robbie Keane (section)

====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>