Richard Keogh, an ex-international footballer for the Republic of Ireland, has declared his retirement from the sport at the age of 37. The central defender boasted a career featuring 786 games for both his homeland and a multitude of clubs throughout England, as well as a brief loan spell in Iceland, spanning over two decades.
Renowned primarily for his tenure at Derby County, Keogh played in 356 matches for the club over a period of eight seasons, during which he was noted as the club’s Player of the Year on two occasions.
Reflecting on his career, Keogh stated that his utmost honour was donning the captain’s armband for Ireland, having represented his nation 26 times between 2013 and 2019. Among the highlights of his career was when he earned the title of man of the match in Ireland’s 2-0 victory against Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Euro 2016 playoffs, as well as participating in games against Italy and France in the same tournament.
Keogh spoke fondly of his time playing for Ireland, stating: “The pride of wearing the green jersey, participating in a major competition [Euro 2016] and the unforgettable moments shared with teammates and supporters – these are memories that will forever be treasured.”
He concluded by stating that his career exceeded all of his personal expectations, shaping him into a better player and person. Looking ahead, Keogh conveyed his excitement and dedication towards his next endeavour of pursuing a coaching career.