HERMOSA BEACH, Calif. -- Landon Donovan played his final game for the LA Galaxy in Sunday's MLS Cup triumph over New England. Might it have been the club finale for Robbie Keane, too?
The recently crowned Volkswagen MLS MVP said he wasn't sure what the future holds, but following LA's championship celebration Monday night at the base of the Hermosa Beach Pier he acknowledged that the possibility exists that he wouldn't return to the Galaxy in 2015.
“I definitely need to recharge the batteries and see what the next chapter is for me, whether it's here or it's somewhere else...,” Keane said. “I'm not saying I'm going to leave, but what I'm saying is I need to consider what I want to do, you know? Sometimes change is good for everybody.”
Keane has another year left on his Galaxy contract.
The Irish striker has been perhaps the best striker in MLS since joining LA in August 2011, and is coming off the best season of his MLS career (19 goals and 14 assists). He scored the extratime winner in LA's 2-1 victory Sunday afternoon at StubHub Center, his 23rd goal in all competitions for the Galaxy this season and the 69th he's netted in 116 matches for the Galaxy in regular season and playoffs.
Those numbers have at least one British club sniffing around: Queens Park Rangers, coached by Keane's former manager at Tottenham, Harry Redknapp, who reportedly declared on Monday that "Keane would be a good shout" for a short-term loan in January.
Keane did not directly discuss that rumor, but did state he has a decision to make.
"First and foremost, I've got to worry about myself," he said. "I have to worry about what I'm going to do. I've had a tremendous four years here. I need a vacation and see what next year holds for me first. I'll look at that first and see what's best for Robbie Keane instead of worrying about anybody else.
“I'll take a vacation, and then I'll see what I want to do first.”
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Keane, who returns Friday to Ireland for MLS's offseason, hasn't had a real break in nearly two years. He underwent surgery on both of his Achilles' tendons last December and rehabbed every day before reporting to Galaxy camp in January.
Asked if he could envision a scenario in which he didn't return to the Galaxy, he said: “I don't know. I don't know. I need a break. It's been a long season, and I need to relax and recharge the batteries. ... I'm not saying I'm going to take a break, because that's not me. I'll take one week off and I'll get the itch again. I'll want to start playing again.
“We'll see what the future holds.”
Galaxy head coach Bruce Arena didn't seem concerned.
“I doubt that,” he said when told of Keane's remarks. “Where do you think he's going? I'm confident Robbie Keane will be back here next year.”
