ROBBIE KEANE

Irish striker Robbie Keane has been tearing Premier League defences apart for years - now he's doing so with a Liverbird on his chest.

The boyhood Red arrived at Anfield in July 2008 in what was his sixth major move since starting out with South Dublin side Crumlin United as a schoolboy.

Fourteen years before joining the Rafalution, Keane chose Wolverhampton Wanderers over Liverpool in order to gain first-team experience. The decision seemed justified when, in 1997 and aged just 17, he burst onto the scene with a raft of spectacular goals which were usually followed by a trademark cartwheel celebration.

It was no surprise when Premiership side Coventry City agreed to fork out £6million in 1999 - then a British record for a teenager. A tally of 12 goals in 34 games for the Highfield Road club soon made Keane one of the hottest properties in football; someone with the ability to turn a game with a sublime touch of brilliance.

Even so, one or two eyebrows were raised when Marcelo Lippi, manager of Italian giants Inter Milan, offered £13million for his services in 2000. The Republic of Ireland skipper would team up with Ronaldo and Christian Vieri in Serie A, though the move was to turn sour when Lippi was sacked.

A loan to Leeds United was arranged in December 2000, where nine goals in 14 games persuaded David O'Leary to write a cheque for £12million. Unfortunately, Keane's arrival at Elland Road coincided with a growing financial crisis, and he was to join the exodus of stars in 2002 with a £7million transfer to Tottenham Hotspur.

Over the next few years the prodigious talent finally settled, tallying an impressive 107 goals in 253 appearances and becoming a firm fans' favourite. So good was his form in February 2006 that Inter president Massimo Moratti admitted his regret at letting Keane go.

Three months before departing for Merseyside he won his first senior honour as a player after helping Spurs beat Chelsea in the League Cup final.

Keane made his competitive debut for Liverpool in a Champions League qualifier against Standard Liege on August 13, 2008.

He had to wait 11 games for his first goal, which came at Anfield against PSV on October 1.

As well as excelling on the club stage, our new number seven also has an impressive international CV.

The frontman was part of the Irish side which triumphed in the 1998 European U18 Championships just months after making his senior bow against the Czech Republic.

A first international goal came against Malta in October 1998 and he famously scored a last-minute equaliser against Germany in the 2002 World Cup, one of three in the tournament.

Keane, who was handed the captain's armband in 2006, is now the Republic's all-time record scorer ahead of Niall Quinn.