US MANAGER JURGEN Klinsmann has revealed that he often tells young players to look up to Ireland captain Robbie Keane as a role model.
The veteran striker has proved a success in the MLS since joining LA Galaxy from Tottenham Hotspur three years ago and is favourite to claim the league’s MVP award this season after 19 goals and 14 assists.
The Galaxy play Seattle Sounders in the first leg of their MLS play-off on Sunday and Martin O’Neill has allowed the 34-year-old to return to the States meaning he won’t feature in tomorrow night’s international friendly in Dublin.
Klinsmann, also a former Spurs star, believes that young footballers hoping to make it in the game can learn a thing or two from Keane, who will have left a “huge mark” on the game when eventually retires.
“We would’ve loved to see Robbie on the field because he’s just enjoyable,” Klinsmann said at his pre-match press conference at Lansdowne Road today.
“I often say that Robbie Keane is a role model for all the American players growing up in this beautiful game. That’s what he has done since he has come overseas. He has shown all the young players what to become a professional, how much dedication you need, how much commitment you need.
“Robbie is the same Robbie in training as in the game, so he is huge for MLS because these are the type of players that you need to have in your environment to make the league grow and to make younger players understand what the real big players are doing.
At the same time, he continues to play for Ireland at the highest level, scoring goals, going back and forth. So I definitely use him a lot as an example how to do it.
“He will leave a huge mark, hopefully a long time down the road, when he leaves the game, with what he has done for MLS over the years.”
