Robbie keen to continue as captain
Ireland captain Robbie Keane will lead his side out at Croke Park tonight thrilled to still be wearing the armband.
The 27-year-old was appointed skipper by Steve Staunton but there was speculation new boss Giovanni Trapattoni could look elsewhere after taking over at the helm.
However, the Italian has asked the Tottenham striker to carry on and he is delighted to be doing so.
Keane said: “I am very proud to play for my country regardless of whether I am captain or not.
“To be named captain again is a great honour and a great privilege to me. There has been a lot of speculation but it is up to the manager, it’s his choice what he does and I am very grateful to be given that armband again.”
Keane has trained with his team-mates for the last two days after the rest of the squad returned from their training camp in Portugal, from which he and Manchester City defender Richard Dunne were excused.
He has had to get to grips quickly with the changes Trapattoni has made to the way he wants his team to play, but has been hugely impressed with what he has seen so far.
“I have heard from different people over the years how enthusiastic he was, but you never really know until you see yourself,” added Keane.
“I have seen it over the last couple of days, and it has been a joy so far and I am looking forward to the next week or so that I have with him, Liam (Brady), Marco (Tardelli) and the rest of the staff.
“When you look at the top managers who have done this, that and the other he (Trapattoni) comes into that bracket with all these big names, the Alex Fergusons of this world.
“He has an impressive CV and the minute you come in, straight away you have total respect for him.
“I am not saying that wasn’t the case before – I have had respect for everybody – but he has this aura about him and that rubs off on the players.”
Keane, of course, added a significant entry to his own CV last season when he helped Spurs lift the Carling Cup to cap one of the best campaigns of his career and he is determined to finish in style with Ireland.
He said: “The last four, maybe five years, I have really enjoyed my football and maybe this year more so because I have won something.
“If you ask any player it’s about winning things. I don’t want to look back on my career and have no medals.
“In that respect, it has been a fantastic year for me.”
