Ranking The 30 Tottenham Transfers in the Daniel Levy Era
By Ryan Wrenn
#5 Best Youth Player: Robbie Keane, Striker
Transfer fee: £7 million
Former club: Leeds United (Premier League)
Years with Spurs: July 1, 2002 — July 1, 2008; July 1, 2009 — August 1, 2011
Stats: 291 appearances, 117 goals, 24 assists (in all competitions)
Glenn Hoddle had been searching for a striker near the end of the 2002 summer transfer window and settled upon the Republic of Ireland international, Robbie Keane. After arriving, the initial thought was to give the Irish striker some competition against Teddy Sheringham, Les Ferdinand, Steffen Iversen and Sergei Rebrov for a place in the first-team. Although signing from Leeds, and playing for Inter Milan before that, both spells weren’t that good.
A good World Cup earlier in the summer of 2002 would help quell supporters’ thoughts on the signing of Robbie Keane, if there were any. Eventually Keane would be the main striker after posting double digit goals in his first three seasons, but would take a back seat once Jermain Defoe signed for the club.
Despite having to share with Defoe as one of Tottenham’s main strikers, throughout Keane’s first six years with Spurs, he enjoyed success establishing himself as one of Tottenham’s best strikers to play for the club in two separate stints. For a total of nine years.
Next: Best Youth Player: #4