Robbie Keane was not happy Rafa Benitez tried to convert him into a winger
Robbie Keane joined Liverpool in 2008 after proving himself to be one of the most prolific strikers in the Premier League with Tottenham.
During his first spell with Spurs he racked up 80 goals in 197 league appearances but failed to replicate that form at Anfield.
The former Ireland international spent just one season with the Reds before returning to White Hart Lane.
And the 37-year-old has claimed he failed to impress on Merseyside because Rafa Benitez insisted on playing him out of position.
GETTY
Robbie Keane lasted just one season at Liverpool under Rafa Benitez
Robbie Keane scores stunning goal for Ireland
“He wanted to change me to a left winger and I mean I am clearly not a left winger,” Keane told PunditArena.
“That is obviously clear for everyone to see.
“The first 20 minutes he wanted me to play left wing and obviously I had never played it before, so it was new to me.
“Of course I respect every manager I’ve worked with. They all have their ideas, different ideas, and whether I agree with them it doesn’t matter.
“I’m not a left-winger, as we’ve established from 20 years of playing football.
“But tactically he was probably one of the best I’ve worked with – he knows the game inside out.
“But he tried to turn me into something I’m not and that was always going to be a recipe for disaster as someone used to scoring goals.
“When I did play up front I scored goals.
“But my problem was that when I did play, I wasn’t going to play the next day, which, for a striker, is very difficult.”
Keane went on to make just 19 Premier League appearances for the Reds, scoring 5 times, before returning to Spurs for a further two years.
Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
