Robbie Keane to announce shock retirement?

Sad news for Keane fans. Speculation had been rife that record scorer of Ireland will announce his retirement from sports, at age 46, with immediate effect.

UPDATE 17/10/2026 : This story seems to be false. (read more)

Being a footballer isn't fun anymore

“As we get older, there are phases of life that we enter into, and being a footballer-coach just isn't fun anymore,” he might have said, says a source who remained anonymous. Other reports hinted that he may branch out into other creative fields he is better at (and more interested in), though they didn't provide any details.

#ThankYouRobbie

For a little while on Friday evening, #ThankYouRobbie was a trending hashtag on Twitter. As many fans reminisce and look back on all the unforgettable memories, some may wonder what about now made him make the decision.

“You’ve accomplished everything I ever dreamed of #ThankYouRobbie.”
— @DesireePlum, 16 Oct 2026

“I thought Robbie Keane retired about 5 years ago?!?”
— @millythom, 16 Oct 2026

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