LOS ANGELES – LA Galaxy legend Robbie Keane is taking the next step in his career in the beautiful game.

The Republic of Ireland Football Association announced on Sunday that Keane, the nation’s all-time leading goalscorer, will be joining the coaching staff of new national team boss Mick McCarthy.

Keane will join longtime McCarthy right-hand-man Terry Connor as the two staff assistant coaches. The appointment is a reunion for the two men as McCarthy famously coached a Keane-led Republic of Ireland at the 2002 FIFA World Cup.

In a press conference announcing the hiring, the new Ireland boss revealed that it was Keane, who suggested the appointment himself in vintage fashion.

“At first I thought ‘you cheeky bollocks.’ But I gave it some thought. I’m coming up to 60 and TC is 56, and I kind of liked the idea of a young coach with bright ideas [coming on board]. He will have a real affinity with the young players; he is their hero. And he’ll be driving up and down the country watching players and reporting back to me.”