Tuesday 30 August 2016 09:39, UK
Robbie Keane has revealed he thought he had said his goodbyes to the Republic of Ireland only for manager Martin O'Neill to offer him the chance of an emotional send-off.
The 36-year-old striker told O'Neill, the coaching staff and his team-mates he was calling it a day after this summer's Euro 2016 finals.
However, he then received a phone call from the Ireland boss asking him to play in one final game, Wednesday's friendly against Oman, in front of an adoring crowd at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, and that was an offer he simply could not refuse.
Keane said: "I spoke to the players, all of them individually and collectively as a group and said that was me finishing. They kind of knew and we said we'd announce it after everything kind of died down.
"I'm very grateful to Martin for giving me the call to play the last game and I'm certainly looking forward to it."
Keane will make his 146th appearance for his country looking for his 68th goal which would equal the great Gerd Muller's tally for West Germany, but insists the game will be no testimonial.
He said: "I don't care about Muller's record or anyone, I'm chasing the next one because that's what I've done since I was seven. I don't know any different.
"And as soon as I've finished with the Ireland team, I'll chase the next one with the Galaxy. That's just the way I've been brought up.
"It's going to be a great occasion, but at the end of the day, I'm still going to go into that game to do the best I can for the Irish team. That's the same feeling I've had since I was 17 years of age."
Keane's departure from the international scene will leave a yawning chasm despite the best efforts of the likes of Shane Long, Daryl Murphy and Jonathan Walters, and the man who has carried the fight for his county since Mick McCarthy handed him his chance as a 17-year-old admits it will be difficult for a young player to follow in his footsteps.
He said: "There are a lot of players now playing in the Championship and it is going to be hard for them because of the number of foreign signings that clubs have made.
"It is going to be very, very difficult for Irish players to go and play in the Premiership and be a starter."
