ROBBIE KEANE rates former Celtic boss Gordon Strachan as the best manager he has ever worked with. The Republic of Ireland legend rates the Scotland international supremo ahead of Inter Milans iconic Marcello Lippi, Liverpools Rafa Benitez and Spurs gaffer Harry Redknapp. Strachan, then in charge at Coventry City, splashed £6million to sign the 19-year-old striker from Wolves at the start of the 1999/2000 season - a record transfer for a teenager at the time. Keane only remained in the Midlands for a year before moving to Italy, but Strachan still made an enormous impact on the prolific frontman. He said: I played with some many good managers in my career and many have good for me. However, Gordon Strachan gets my vote as the No.1 boss. He got the absolute best out of me when I was a youngster. He did the same with many other players, too. I have to say I thought he was a formidable character. Keane rattled in 12 goals in 31 league games at Coventry and attracted the attention of Lippi at the Serie A superstars. Strachan more than DOUBLED his initial outlay when Inter paid £13million for the player. Ironically, the manager and player just missed teaming up together at Celtic when Strachan left in the summer of 2009 and his successor Tony Mowbray signed Keane in a loan deal from Spurs on the last day of the January 2010 transfer window. Keane played out the remainder of the campaign for the Hoops, scoring 12 goals in 16 games before moving back to London in another temporary deal with West Ham. He has spent the last three years in the MLS with LA Galaxy.
Posted on: Sun, 08 Jun 2014 10:40:07 +0000