Who is Ireland's most famous current footballer?

**an_ceannaire** · 11/03/2009, 8:09 PM

Globally? At the moment? I spose it has to be John O'Shea....isnt it?

**The Legend** · 11/03/2009, 8:11 PM

Still Robbie Keane. If you meant notorious, maybe O'Shea

**NeilMcD** · 11/03/2009, 8:12 PM

Robbie Keane, whenever I am travelling he is always the current player other fans say when talking about the irish team.

**stojkovic** · 11/03/2009, 8:30 PM

A German Borussia Dortmund fan I met in Prague when we played there told me the only Irish player he knew of was Robbie Keane. He was raving about Stephen Hunt after the game though.

**kingdomkerry** · 11/03/2009, 8:44 PM

In Thailand when you tell the local lads you are from Ireland. They automatically say "robbie keane"

**corkboy360** · 11/03/2009, 8:45 PM

Darren O Dea

**rambler14** · 11/03/2009, 9:02 PM

David Connolly!

**stiffler** · 11/03/2009, 9:03 PM

I would say the keane surname has been the most famous for the last 15 years.

**Crosby87** · 11/03/2009, 11:11 PM

Clinton Morrison is legendary in most college towns around the world for being able to do that thing where you smoke a ciggerette and shotgun a beer at the same time. So I will have to say.......Clinton Morrison.

**Dunny** · 11/03/2009, 11:20 PM

Keith Fahey.

**irishultra** · 11/03/2009, 11:29 PM

duff was huge in japan following world cup. irish players don't really diversify throughout europe for whatever reason so knowledge of players is probably fairly limited.

**eirebhoy** · 12/03/2009, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by irishultra

duff was huge in japan following world cup. irish players don't really diversify throughout europe for whatever reason so knowledge of players is probably fairly limited.

Even other parts of Asia. I remember him coming off the bench for his Chelsea debut in a Malaysia pre-season tournament. There was some noise from the crowd. He set up a goal for Hasselbaink straight away too.

Anyway Keane is definitely our most famous player in Europe.

**Blue Man** · 12/03/2009, 12:05 AM

Paul Butler!!

Oh wait you said Irish didnt you......

**irishfan86** · 12/03/2009, 5:53 AM

Yeah it's Keane right now, but as mentioned Duff is quite popular in Asia. There was a guy from Korea over here about 5 years ago when I was in high school and he loved to talk about Keane and Duff.

**theworm2345** · 12/03/2009, 6:03 AM

Originally Posted by rambler14

David Connolly!

wasn't me

**Hibs4Ever** · 12/03/2009, 6:29 AM

Originally Posted by kingdomkerry

In Thailand when you tell the local lads you are from Ireland. They automatically say "robbie keane"

Same here in Czech Rep. Stephen Hunt 2nd most famous Irish player here (and 1st most hated player too

)

**endabob1** · 12/03/2009, 6:33 AM

It's Robbie by a mile, most non-europeans would struggle to even name another Irish player.
Of course that is partly because they wouldn't make the connection between the O'Shea that plays for Man U & the one that plays for Ireland

**osarusan** · 12/03/2009, 9:18 AM

When I was living in Japan, Robbie Keane was the name most often mentioned. How famous he was before WC2002 I don't know though. During and for a while after that tournament, Roy Keane was definitely the most commonly mentioned player.

Originally Posted by kingdomkerry

In Thailand when you tell the local lads you are from Ireland. They automatically say "robbie keane"

Same in Japan.

**Dodge** · 12/03/2009, 9:21 AM

Originally Posted by irishultra

irish players don't really diversify throughout europe for whatever reason so knowledge of players is probably fairly limited.

The reason is they don't play in the Champions league and haven't been in a major tournament in 7 years

**Drumcondra 69er** · 12/03/2009, 9:41 AM

Originally Posted by osarusan

When I was living in Japan, Robbie Keane was the name most often mentioned. How famous he was before WC2002 I don't know though. During and for a while after that tournament, Roy Keane was definitely the most commonly mentioned player.

Same in Japan.

Ian Harte was big with the Japanese when I was over there and all through his CL exposure with Leeds in 00/01 (and probably his goals in qualifying), met a few Japanese girls at the gathering outside the train station in Nigata with an 'Ian Harte' sign, thought it was bizarre given his form at the time!