Robbie Keane: “I come from Tallaght, it’s a great area, a tough area, you have to be mentally strong”
In an interview with journalist and broadcaster Graham Hunter, Tallaght’s Robbie Keane has spoken about growing up in Tallaght and how it gave him the mental toughness to pursue his footballing career.
The 80 minute interview covers a huge amount, including the former Republic of Ireland captain's relationship with David Beckham, leadership, playing under different managers and why he has chosen to play football in India.
Speaking about his childhood in Glenshane Keane said: “I come from Tallaght. It’s a great area, a tough area, you have to be mentally strong.
“A lot of shit happened there when I was younger that I've seen that maybe other kids - don't get me wrong, around the world there are way more worse things that is happening, but I can only go on what I've seen - robbed cars on the street and drugs and stuff like that, but for me growing up there I didn't know anything different.
“You had to look after yourself, there were fights on the street and you had to be strong. You couldn’t back away from people.
“You couldn’t show that weakness or that sign of weakness where people would try and bully you, so I definitely get it from there, and also from the love of playing football.”
He continued: “I just absolutely love football. I can’t stress this enough and I’ve said this for 20 years, I’d play football for free.
“Look back over my interviews where I’ve said this. Sunday morning when I come home in the summer – all my friends play five-a-side, all of us from my area where I was brought up in Tallaght, my brothers, my cousins, best mates.”
You can listen to a section of the interview for free HERE.
