Robbie Keane declared he had not let Tottenham down by leaving for what is a "new chapter in my life" as he was unveiled as a Liverpool player.
The Republic of Ireland international has completed a £20.3million move from White Hart Lane to join the club he has supported all his life.
Keane, whose move has been heavily criticised by Spurs chairman Daniel Levy, will now make his debut on Wednesday in a friendly away to Villarreal.
Keane, 28, said: "I do not think I let Spurs down. I had six fantastic seasons there and gave them everything. Since day one.
"I always give everything, and that will never change. The Spurs fans were always magnificent to me and I will always have a place in my heart for them.
"But this is a new chapter in my life and one that I am looking forward to. I had six great years at Spurs and thank them for that.
"There are players leaving Spurs, but there are also good players coming in. I can only focus on Robbie Keane and what is good for me."
Keane will now wear the number seven shirt at Liverpool made famous by legends like Kenny Dalglish and Kevin Keegan.
Keane said: "To wear that shirt is an honour, and something I truly understand. If I can have half as much success in it as Keegan and Dalglish did, I will be a happy man."
He added: "I've been waiting for this day since I was a kid. Everyone knows I am a massive Liverpool fan, so to be sitting here in a Liverpool tracksuit is a dream come true.
"I always wanted to be a footballer as a kid, but also to play for Liverpool.
"Maybe you never feel it is going to happen. I could have come here as a teenager, but chose Wolves because I felt there would be more chance of immediate first team football, and that proved to be the case.
"Now I am enjoying every minute and I can't wait to pull on that red shirt.
"This is a massive club and want to do everything I can to make them even more successful.
"The reasons I left Spurs are that I am a huge Liverpool fan and the chance to play for them may never come around again.
"This opportunity is something I couldn't let go. I am at an age now when I believe I am at my peak, and aim to kick on.
"This is a great opportunity now for me, the whole package that Liverpool has to offer really inspires me.
"I am just grateful to be here. I love the club and this is the one dream I had still achieve."
Keane is relishing the prospect of teaming up with Fernando Torres.
The Irishman told the club's official website: "He has been a revelation since he came to the Premier League. He was absolutely outstanding last year and also in the Euros with Spain.
"It is hard to leave Tottenham with some of the players they had - like Dimitar Berbatov, who I had a great relationship with - but Torres is probably the best striker in the world right now. Hopefully we can play a lot of games together and do well.''
Keane should play just off Torres in the Liverpool formation, and hopes to bridge the gap between midfield and Torres.
"I see myself as a second striker,'' he said.
"I can play off the shoulder, link things up and play in the hole. You are always judged on scoring goals as a striker and I have always scored a lot of goals. Hopefully I can continue that here at Liverpool.''
Liverpool expects Keane to strike up a fearsome partnership with Torres.
"We were looking for a player with game intelligence and good movement who could play alongside Torres,'' Benitez told the club's official website.
"He can play with Torres up front and also on the right.
"He is a player who can give to us a lot of goals - normally he gets about 15 each year. We were looking for the workrate he can give to us, the game intelligence and also the goals."
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Comment 1 - 20 of 20
Thanks Robbie for you great years of service, you will be missed at the Lane by all the real Spurs fans!! I just hope you are sick when Liverpool play us cos we know what you can do!! All the best. Paul T
"considering his roots, it's highly likely that he's always been a liverpool fan and highly unlikely that he was an Celtic fan. It's a ridiculous thing to suggest."
Doesn't look much of a Liverpool fan here does he Mikey?
Type Celtic v Rangers 27.04.08 into Youtube
@#$%
Regarding being a Celtic and or Liverpool fan, I guess most of the non-Irish on this thread will not be aware that, almost to a man, the "catholic irish" (non-practicing usually) support Celtic, almost as a birthright but we choose our "English heros" as we grow up. I personally am a Liverpool fan and cross the Irish sea to Anfield once a year where possible but equally a trip to Celtic Park follows not long after. Anyone remember the atmosphere at Liverpool v Celtic in the Champions League a few years back.. Pure magic, like long lost friends !!.
You can check out Robbie in today's Daily Mirror at Anfield, aged 13, in full 'Pool kit ,tracksuit and bobble hat. Enough said.
I'm sorry Tarica, your comments are ill informed.
Sure,money is important for all players. Anyone who says otherwise is a fool or a liar. Do some homework- you wont find any childhood photos of Robbie in anything other than a Liverpool shirt.
Check him out as a kid on tour to Anfield with Crumlin Utd, he's pictured with Ronnie Whelan in front of the Kop in a full Liverpool kit getting an autograph signed. Now,would you reckon that as a kid he did that with every Premiership club???
Your comments are (in your own opening words)aload of Rubbish
He's 28 and has maybe 5 good years left, he just wants to complete a lifetime dream!
considering his roots, it's highly likely that he's always been a liverpool fan and highly unlikely that he was an Celtic fan. It's a ridiculous thing to suggest.
I think Keane's a classic Liverpool player. He'll fit in brilliantly. It'll be awesome. Keane and Torres..... scary stuff.
Paxton road steve, What a sporting and generous post by yourself. I hope Robbie can be as good for us as he was for you.Good luck for the forth coming season.
TOTTENHAM TILL I DIE !!!
GOOD LUCK ROBBIE, YOU DID US PROUD SON, WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU, YOU'LL GO DOWN IN MY MEMORY WITH GREAVES, SMITH, WHITE, CHIVERS, PETERS, THE BOY LINEAKER AND JURGEN !!!
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOUVE DONE FOR T.H.F.C. AND ME.
CHEERS,
PAXTON ROAD STEVE.
Im hoping that when he scores his goals his roll over machine gun attack celebration will be a thing of the past! He'l be scoring that many he'l get a bad back!!!!...Time for a new celebration!....Although not a crouchie robot....Ronaldo has one were he throws himself to the floor....OOPS! Thats the wrong way round! He throws himself to the floor and then scores the pen!!! Cheating spick!
Liverpool is very lucky to have a man of his work rate. All those who say that they should keep Crouch instead of Keane have no clue what they are talking about. He will score goals and he will work well with Torres. Now all Liverpool needs is to sort out their Defense.
Tarica, sounds like you are an embittered Leeds fan that needs to move on. Ask most Spurs fans and they will say that Robbie Keane was the hardest worker on the pitch for that team. Give Robbie a break, if you could find 11 players that had his heart on the pitch then you would be winning the premiership year in, year out. Move on buddy, well done Robbie on your lifelong move ! Mark
As a lifelong fan of Spurs, all be it now from the armchair, I am gutted that Robbie has left. The point all Spurs wonder, who is next to go? Will Berbatov stay? Where do Spurs go from here and before the wags say it not down to the Championship. Bent must have a chance to make his mark.
Absolutely gutted at him leaving spurs, but he wanted to play at liverpool and he has had passion whilst playing in a spurs shirt. Perhaps with the change in management again it unsettled players, Maybe Daniel Levy should go as he has no ambition for spurs just wants a profit. You cannot sell your best players if you want to win anything and i do not know whether spurs will. The club needs to grow to a bigger stadium because without doubt the fans would fill a 60,000 seater. Then they can invest in the future with better youth facilities with good players coming through the ranks like United ,Arsenal we can build winning squads rather than buying players.
THATS THE ONLY WAY FORWARD FOR ENGLISH FOOTBALL.!
Tarica, great post,
It was quoted ( but I can't remember where ) that he was a Celtic fan as a boy. It's strange how allegiences change - I think this "I was a life long Liverpool fan" is just Robbie Keane talking proverbial @#$%.
Robbie Keane does not have any loyalty to anyone or any team whatsoever, if Man United came in for him would he suddenly say he was a lifelong Man United and go to Old Trafford? Of course he would!!!
i dont know what your on about regarding keano been a life long leeds fan..does it matter at the end of the day were staying with home grown talent is that not better than bringing in players from abroad....im a football coach and scout,keep with us brits for tallent....come on you reds great move on keano....
i bet he never said he was a life long Leeds fan..no way
as a spurs fan i was gutted to see robbie leave, but i wish him well as when he did play for us he gave his heart and soul. i am not so sure how good this move may be, benitez does not play with two strikers away from home so robbie will be on the bench a lot more which will not be good for him or ireland, remember he played for spurs at every game thats why he scored so many.
In defence of robbie, he absolutely is a lifelong 'Pool fan, as anyone who knows him here in Dublin or grew up with him could tell you. The same as his dad was before he passed away. So, Tarica, as we say here in Dublin, you're talking out of your hoop!
what aload of Rubbish, Keano a life long liverpool fan???? Just like when he joined Leeds United when we were good, he was also a life long Leeds United fan, its money that he's a life long fan of not the club, he saw the £££££££ signs and he couldn't resist, best way to make it look better use the good old line, "I'm a life long fan" Course you are Keano
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