Very high praise indeed from the former Republic of Ireland manager.
Mick McCarthy says that Robbie Keane will ultimately be recognised as Ireland’s greatest ever player, and that his record stands head and shoulders above anyone else’s.
Keane will make his 146th and final Ireland appearance against Oman at the Aviva Stadium next Wednesday, and his 67 goals for his country is more than three times as many as his nearest challenger, Niall Quinn.
“He’s arguably the best,” McCarthy told RTÉ.
“He’s certainly been the most productive in terms of his position and goals he’s scored, 67.
“He’s scored every type of goal, with his head, with both feet, probably with his backside and his knees. He’s got scruffy goals, he’s got wonderful goals and he also helps others score.
“We’ve had some really good players, Paul McGrath and Liam Brady and lots of others, Robbie’s up there with any of them and could end up being the best of all.”
McCarthy, of course, gave Keane his international debut back in 1998 when the then Wolves player was only 17.
“It’s sounds patronising but he was a lovely young boy,” McCarthy reminisced. “He played like a kid in a playground and he just enjoyed playing. He had a real joy of just being out on the training ground and he lit the place up.
“He had a real humble side to him. He was just an ordinary kid who loved playing football and every one of us took to him.
“He was cocky, confident and swaggered on the pitch but that’s where you want it. Any of us my age would have been happy to have him as a kid.”
