GROWING UP IN Tallaght, Robbie Keane would often be referred to as ‘Roberto’ by people around the area.
He didn’t mind the nickname. It was a golden age for Italian football and the youngster had become a fan of pony-tailed forward lining out for the likes of Juventus, Fiorentina and Milan — Roberto Baggio.
Ireland team-mate Gary Kelly would later call Keane ‘Baggio’ while on international duty, and it has since been passed on to his son Robert jr.
The pair were actually close to playing together but Baggio departed Inter Milan right before Keane joined from Coventry City in the summer of 2000.
As part of the Three’s #TheCallUp campaign, Ireland’s record goalscorer explains how it the ex-Italy star who inspired him to wear the number 10 shirt for the Boys in Green.
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