Republic of Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni saluted Robbie Keane after watching him mark a record-equalling 125th senior international appearance with a double against Georgia.
Keane came off the bench as a half-time substitute and helped himself to his 55th and 56th goals for Ireland as the Republic romped to a 4-0 victory over the 10-man Georgians who laboured after keeper Giorgi Loria's 20th-minute dismissal. Derby defender Richard Keogh had opened the scoring three minutes before the break, and Nottingham Forest striker Simon Cox extended the home side's lead three minutes after the restart before Keane sealed the win.
"Robbie was destined. He started to play as an 18-year-old and was one of the youngest creative players in Ireland," Trapattoni said.
"He has played in famous teams in Italy and Tottenham in England, and he continues to show us his creative quality.
"There are players who feel goals, and Robbie is one of these players. He has shown us he is not finished because also in Los Angeles, every week he scores goals.
"There are strikers who have a particular feeling for goals and Robbie is one of these. He will be a great for Ireland because in the future he will continue and in the next game, he will have the most caps."
Keane will overtake keeper Shay Given if, as expected, he leads Ireland into their World Cup qualifier against the Faroe Islands at the Aviva Stadium on Friday evening, and he admits that is not something he ever envisaged.
The LA Galaxy frontman said: "If you had asked me 10 years ago if I would get this many caps, I would have said you were crazy.
"Obviously I am delighted and I am sure I will look back in years to come on it - but hopefully I will get a few more yet."
Source: PA
