CARSON, Calif. – Robbie Keane has heard the MVP chatter every year since joining the LA Galaxy.
When he led the Galaxy in scoring during their 2012 and 2013 seasons, the Irish striker was linked with the league’s top individual honor, but both times he fell just short of winning the award. This season, Keane is again stating a major case for MVP honors with 17 goals and 14 assists for a Galaxy side that is tied atop of the Supporters’ Shield standings with Seattle Sounders FC.
But even as the buzz surrounding Keane’s MVP caliber season intensifies, the Galaxy’s captain is not interested in inserting himself in the debate.
“We say this every year,” Keane said after scoring two goals in the Galaxy’s 4-0 win over the New York Red Bulls on Sunday. “We say MVP every year and I don’t win it, so I’d prefer not to even speak about it. In football, the most important thing is consistency. If you’re consistent then every year you continue to strive to do better than you did the year before, and every year since I’ve been here, I’ve done that. That’s all you can ask for.”
The stats certainly back up Keane’s claim as his 17 goals and 14 assists this season are MLS career-highs. But to fully understand what a successful season that Keane has enjoyed, you’ll have to go back to when he was finding the back of the net in Europe.
Keane’s 17-goal season is the highest output that does not include postseason games since he scored 25 goals in all competitions while splitting time with Tottenham Hotspur and Scottish power Celtic during the 2009/10 campaign.
If you remove cup competitions, Keane’s 2014 league total with the Galaxy is the Irishman’s highest mark of his career—surpassing his 16-goal season when he led Tottenham Hotspur to a fifth place finish in the 2005/06 Premier League, a finish which was at the time Spurs’ highest ever in the EPL standings.
And ultimately it is this gradual improvement—not individual awards—that are important to the Galaxy’s star forward.
“That’s all you can ask for. 16 goals and 11 assists last year and now more goals this year, more assists this year,” he said. “As a player, that’s all you can ask for. I challenge myself every season to do that. As long as you have a challenge in your own mind then I’m satisfied with what I’ve done this season. My aim every year is to do better than I have the year before.”
While Keane may not be up for promoting his own MVP candidacy, his Galaxy teammates—and some of his opponents— are quick to tout their own “Mr. Consistency” as the best that MLS has to offer.
“He’s comfortable, he’s confident, he’s aggressive, and he’s moving well. I would absolutely hate to play against him if I was a defender,” said Galaxy forward Landon Donovan. “He’s as good as I’ve seen him and it’s truly an honor to play with him. It really is.”
Added Red Bulls striker and fellow MVP candidate Bradley Wright-Phillips, “Growing up, Robbie Keane was my favorite player. We had something in England like a player camera that you could follow that player around, and I used to watch his move and his touch. He is a tremendous player. He hasn’t lost it at all.”
As the debate about his MVP candidacy continues, don’t expect Keane to pay any attention on whether he’ll be lifting the individual honor in some press conference room in early December. His focus is simply on lifting the team award that is traditionally awarded on the field several days later.
“Listen, you can always be better, but if you always think that then you can easily be kicked in the face the next game,” Keane said. “It’s important that we don’t get too carried away. We had a great performance [against New York], but as soon as we leave the stadium it’s finished.”
Adam Serrano is the LA Galaxy Insider. Read his blog at LAGalaxy.com/Insider and contact him at LAGalaxyInsider@Gmail.com.
