Keane has enjoyed highs and lows during his career and, after being sent out on loan by Tottenham, he joined MLS side LA Galaxy in August 2011.

Keane started his career as teenage prodigy with Wolverhampton Wanderers. It wasn't long before the Premiership scouts were clambering for his signature but the Molineux club held out for three years before they were forced to bow to Coventry City. The teenage Keane had scored 24 goals in only 67 League starts and joined the Sky Blues in August 1999 for £6 million. Coming the end of the 1999-00 season, the bigger clubs were still on the trail of the Republic of Ireland international but it was a shock when Inter Milan signed him for £13 million. But all did not go well in Serie A as Keane slipped down the pecking order.

Leeds United offered him an escape route and he signed on loan for the West Yorkshire club for the 2000-01 season and made a permanent £12 million move at the end of the campaign. However, things did not go as well once he was a fully fledged Leeds player, and the signing of Robbie Fowler pushed him down the pecking order. With Alan Smith and Mark Viduka also in the running for a first team spot, Keane had to settle for a place on the bench for much of the 2001-02 season.

He went to the 2002 World Cup with the Republic of Ireland with his future shrouded in doubt, but was one of the stars of the tournament as Ireland went out on penalties to Spain in the second round. Spurs then swooped for their future vice-captain just before the transfer deadline in August 2002 to complete a £7 million transfer. Keane had scored 19 goals for Leeds, but started only 38 games.

The player signed a four-year deal at White Hart Lane, with the option of a two-year extension and Keane made his Tottenham debut in a 3-2 win over West Ham United. At Tottenham he rose to captain the club and made over 250 appearances before leaving to join Liverpool in a £20.3 million deal, which backfired spectacularly. Lasting only six months at the club, he returned to Spurs but could not hold down a place and joined Celtic and West Ham on loan before choosing to continue his career in the USA.

Having enjoyed success in the MLS Cup in 2011, Keane decided to head back to the Premier League in the off-season to join boyhood club Aston Villa on a six week loan.

Strengths: Keane is no slouch, he is comfortable on the ball and has a penchant for a classy assist or two as well as an eye for goal.

Weaknesses: Not a clinical finisher and his goals tend to come in patches, which is why he has slipped down the pecking order at a series of clubs during his career.

Career high: Scoring three goals at the 2002 World Cup as Ireland reached the second-round.

Career low: Returning to Spurs with his tail between his legs after failing to make the grade at Liverpool.

Style: Creative, hardworking, a deadly finisher who can lead by example.

Quotes: "He's one of the very best players you can see in the Premier League, he's a player who is settled down, a good professional, a good mentality, so every manager would be very happy to have Keane in his squad." Former Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez

Trivia: He won his 100th cap against Argentina in August 2010 and is Ireland's record goalscorer.