Flashback: Robbie Keane joins Coventry in recordBritish £6M fee for teenage footballer in 1999

Robbie Keane became the most expensive teenager in British football when he joined Coventry in August 1999.
By Sports Desk
Published 20th Aug 2020, 06:00 BST
Manager Gordon Strachan (left) with new Coventry City signing Robbie Keane, in 1999.Manager Gordon Strachan (left) with new Coventry City signing Robbie Keane, in 1999.
Manager Gordon Strachan (left) with new Coventry City signing Robbie Keane, in 1999.

Keane went on to become one of the most feared strikers in the Premier League after bursting onto the scene as a teenager.

He had scored 29 goals in two seasons for Wolves in the second tier to convince Coventry to splash out £6million for the then 19-year-old.

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Keane made an instant impact with two goals on his debut in a 2-0 win over Derby at Highfield Road.

He scored 12 times in 31 top flight appearances before being snapped up by Inter Milan for £13million after just a season at Coventry.

It was a struggle at the San Siro after Marcelo Lippi, the manager who brought him to Italy, left and Keane returned to England to join Leeds on loan in December 2000.

But it was at Tottenham where he really found a home after moving to White Hart Lane in 2002.

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The Republic of Ireland international scored 122 times in two spells – either side of a disappointing half a season at Liverpool – and made 306 appearances, winning the League Cup in 2008.

He had a brief loan at West Ham before leaving for good in 2011 to move to LA Galaxy.

Keane returned to England on loan at Aston Villa in 2012, scoring three more top flight goals to end his career with 126 strikes in the Premier League.

On This Day In Sport

1906: One of the early greats of British tennis, HW ‘Bunny’ Austin was born. He teamed up with Fred Perry to win four consecutive Davis Cup finals between 1933 and 1936. He made it to the Wimbledon final in 1932 and 1938 but was beaten both times. Austin died in Coulsdon, south London, in 2000.

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1988: Jack Nicklaus tied for 34th place in The International at Castle Pines, Colorado, and became the first man to take his career earnings above the five million US dollars mark on the US Tour.

2002: Australia captain Steve Waugh joined Kent for a month-long stint at the end of the County Championship season.

2004: Jonathan Woodgate joined Real Madrid from Newcastle for £13.4million.

Related topics:CoventryTottenhamPremier LeagueJack NicklausWolves

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