Everyone’s a comedian.
Robbie Keane has a new club. The veteran striker has joined Atletico de Kolkata in the Indian Super League, who are coached by Teddy Sheringham, his former Tottenham Hotspur teammate.
Keane has been without a club since leaving Los Angeles Galaxy late last year. The former Liverpool and Inter Milan striker won three MLS Cups out in the United States, and was one of the most successful designated players in the league’s history.
The 37-year-old had been linked with a move to Birmingham City, who are managed by his old boss Harry Redknapp. But he’s decided instead to take his talents to Calcutta.
Join us in welcoming Robbie Keane to the #ATK family. #AamarBukeyATK pic.twitter.com/q9kv6VLyes
— Mohun Bagan Super Giant (@mohunbagansg) August 4, 2017
Atletico de Kolkata are Keane’s 11th club in a nomadic career, which began with Wolverhampton Wanderers 20 years ago. The Irishman has scored goals everywhere he’s been, including 68 goals for the Republic of Ireland.
However, any mention of Keane usually results in one joke – about his boyhood clubs.
Robbie Keane joins his boyhood club. https://t.co/D7FZiSfTHM
— Simon Hughes (@Simon_Hughes__) August 4, 2017
When the striker joined Liverpool in 2008, he said he grew up supporting the club. When he arrived at Celtic for a short loan spell in 2010, he said he grew up supporting the club.
In Ireland, many football fans follow Celtic as well as an English club, with Manchester United and Liverpool the best supported English clubs in the country. So, Keane’s claim wasn’t as strange as it might sound, but it became infamous and the butt of endless jokes.
And even now, years after the joke was first made and stopped being funny, it was doing the rounds when Keane’s transfer was announced.
https://twitter.com/TeamFA/status/892358501778857984
Good to see Robbie Keane secure a move to his boyhood club Atletico de Kolkota
— Gerry Johnston (@gjsportsblog) August 4, 2017
Robbie Keane is to join a team that were formed after he became an adult. So he literally cannot call them his boyhood team.
— Shivam Manghnani (@shivamLM) August 4, 2017
@FootballRamble It's good to see Robbie Keane finally getting to play for his boyhood club Atlético de Kolkata
— Liam Roberts (@LRobertsDesign) August 4, 2017
Lovely story this, Robbie Keane finally signs for his boyhood club, Atlético de Koltaka. https://t.co/sYYCnOa1mV
— Dentley Brummle (@DentleyBrummle) August 4, 2017
what a dream for Robbie Keane to sign for his boyhood club…
— Nick Bennett (@nickTTbennett) August 4, 2017
Seriously, they just kept coming.
https://twitter.com/_barebour/status/893238531300225024
No mate, the entire internet beat you to the joke. Seven years ago.
https://twitter.com/GOGUN69/status/893482740577972228
Robbie Keane joins another boyhood club of his. 'I always loved Mishti Doi when I was young from KC Das Sweets' https://t.co/oqyniTDX6m
— Krishnendu Sanyal (@kriacked) August 4, 2017
https://twitter.com/harikriss/status/893457255546331137
Keane has had a lot of clubs though.
