Former Liverpool and Tottenham Hotspur striker Robbie Keane had one of football’s most iconic celebrations, and he’s now revealed which is his current favourite in the Premier League.
Scoring a goal is the greatest feeling in the world to footballers, and that euphoria certainly explains some of the more passionate goal celebrations we’ve seen over the years. From club competitions to major tournaments, great goals are memorable and so are the celebrations that come with them.
Robbie Keane’s own lasting football legacy won’t be just the goals he scored, but by what followed them. His trademark cartwheel and roll celebration became one of the most recognisable in history, capturing the joy and flair of a natural born goalscorer.
The current crop of Premier League stars have their own set of renowned celebrations amongst them — from Cole Palmer’s ‘cold’ to James Maddison’s ‘dart’ — but fans and pundits are often divided on which player does it best.
During an episode of Rio Ferdinand’s ‘Presents’ podcast, Keane was quick to name his favourite — Erling Haaland’s ‘zen’ meditation celebration.
The Manchester City striker first performed the celebration during his spell at RB Salzburg, but it was popularised during his time with Borussia Dortmund. The pose — cross-legged, eyes closed and hands resting on his knees — is a nod to his love for meditation.
Speaking to Esporte Interativo, Haaland explained it “makes [him] feel calm and gives tranquillity” — a stark contrast to his physical style of football.
Despite hailing Haaland’s routine, Ferdinand despaired at how VAR has stripped away much of the emotion and spontaneity of the goal celebration. Keane echoed the sentiment, particularly from the perspective of a manager.
“When I was managing, the first thing I did was constantly [looking at the VAR screen]. Imagine me now, scoring, doing the cartwheel and then VAR comes in, takes away the goal. I’d look like an idiot”
Though best remembered for his years at Tottenham, Keane signed for Liverpool in the summer of 2008 as one of the league’s most prolific strikers, but his Anfield chapter never truly took off. Despite flashes of quality when played centrally, his time under Rafa Benítez was inconsistent and ultimately ended prematurely, something he considers a missed opportunity by Benítez and the club.
Still, his overall Premier League legacy remains intact, finishing as the most prolific Irish scorer in the competition’s history with 126 goals in 349 appearances across six clubs.
For Republic of Ireland’s all-time leading scorer, the emotion of scoring remains special but the shadow of VAR looms large.
