Robbie Keane has vowed to carry on playing for Ireland at his first official function as the newest star in the LA Galaxy.

The Irish captain has pledged to continue serving his country until such time as his international manager tells him otherwise.

Keane has also dismissed all suggestions that he has signed up for a retirement home on the West Coast of America.

And he promised to help the Galaxy challenge for a first MLS title at an open air press conference in Los Angeles, called to unveil the club’s new signing.

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“I have always been 100% committed to the Irish team and nothing will change that unless the manager of Ireland or whoever else above that tells me differently,” said Keane.

“I have been very fortunate with Ireland. I have had some fantastic years playing for my country and we are in a great position now in the Euros.

“We have two massive games coming up next month and I will be there. I am really looking forward to them, just as I am looking forward to playing with the Galaxy.

“I am not ready to change anything with Ireland. When I am on international duty I will be focussed entirely on Ireland, it will be the same when I am with the Galaxy.”

Some pundits have claimed Keane is heading for semi-retirement in America but that is not a sentiment that finds any favour with Ireland’s record scorer.

Keane added: “I am not here for a holiday, I am here to play football first and foremost and that is the most important thing.

“Everything else aside from football is irrelevant. This is about playing football, my career is about playing football and it always has been.

“When my representatives told me the Galaxy were interested last Friday, I told them to make it happen. That shows how interested I was in coming here.

“It is an exciting opportunity for me and something I will relish. I am really looking forward to bringing something different to the team and scoring a lot of goals.

“It is the right time for me to come here. I am someone who believes that when you get a good feeling about something you should do it and I had a good feeling about this.

“I have played in the Premiership for a long, long time. I did what I had to do there. I scored a lot of goals. It was time for a new challenge and this opportunity came up, an opportunity you couldn’t take lightly.

“I spoke to people and I knew straight away it was right for me. Having spoken to David Beckham when he trained at Spurs last winter, it was an easy decision.”

A re-union with Red Bulls star Thierry Henry is on the cards for Keane next weekend – when he will also come up against former Wolves mate Carl Robinson, ex-Spurs player Teemu Taino and Wayne Rooney’s brother John.

“I have a couple of friends playing with the Red Bulls – I am looking forward to meeting them and beating them next week,” smiled Keane.

Galaxy boss Bruce Arena confirmed that Keane will make his MLS debut against the San Jose Earthquake on Saturday night.