From the archives | Robbie Keane talks Coventry, 2003

Glenn Hoddle famously said he hoped that Robbie Keane would 'find a home' when he joined us in August, 2002.

The reason? The Republic of Ireland legend had played for four clubs in five years after moving from Dublin to Wolves as a teenager in 1996. One of those clubs was Coventry City, who we face in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening (8pm), our first match at the newly-named Coventry Building Society Arena.

Keano's displays at the old Highfield Road attracted the attention of Inter in Italy, but he'd returned quickly from Milan to Leeds on loan in 2000, a deal made permanent in 2001, before switching to Spurs a year later.

N17 did become home for Robbie, who remains 12th on our all-time goalscoring list with 122 goals in his 306 appearances in all competitions between 2002-2011. He also tasted glory in the League Cup with our memorable semi-final win against Arsenal and final victory over Chelsea in 2008.

Just over a year into his time at Spurs, Robbie found himself back at Highfield Road, this time in the second round of the League Cup, on 24 September, 2003. Of course, he scored against his former club with further goals from Fredi Kanoute and Rohan Ricketts securing a 3-0 win.

That tie was almost 21 years ago - and at the time, we spoke to Keano about what it would mean for him to go back to Highfield Road and face his former club.

Here's what he had to say...

2003 | Keane on Coventry

From tottenhamhotspur.com

Robbie Keane makes a first return to Coventry City as a player tonight and he hopes it will be a special occasion.

The Irish livewire enjoyed his first foray into Premiership football with the Sky Blues under the management of Gordon Strachan after he left Wolves in August, 1999.

He was a firm favourite with the crowd and instantly made his mark on the top flight. Now, three clubs later, he heads back in Tottenham colours but says his second club remains close to his heart.

"It is going to be special as I have great memories from Highfield Road," said Robbie on Tuesday. "I was there with Gordon Strachan and had a great season there.

"Coventry are very close to my heart and the fans, from day one, were brilliant to me. It is always nice to go back and hopefully I'll get a good reception.

"I really enjoyed it, taking a step up to the Premiership was always going to be hard, but I had good players around me and a good manager who helped me in every possible way - I loved every minute of it."

And it certainly took a pretty big move to tempt him away from Coventry at the time...

"It took Inter Milan! It was good though and I'm really looking forward to it. I haven't been back to Coventry or Wolves yet in a competitive game and I can't wait for it."

A team-mate of Robbie during his year at Coventry now happens to be manager of the club and Robbie says he long suspected Gary McAllister would end up in charge.

"I got on very well with Macca and still speak to him every now and again. He is a good bloke and I knew when I was at Coventry that he was always going to become manager.

"He is just one of those people who knows the game inside-out and is very clever on the pitch. I'm sure he will prove to be the same off the pitch too. I've got a lot of respect for Gary."