Two years is a long time in football. Today both Robbie Keane and Dimitar Berbatov are both rumoured to be leaving their current teams after poor seasons, yet only two years ago they were both part of one of the most creative and deadliest partnerships in the Premier League.

Berbatov arrived at the Lane in 2006 for what was then, a large transfer fee. He stayed for two seasons and in that time scored 45 goals and created 18 more. In the same two seasons Robbie Keane scored 41 goals and weighed in with an impressive 18 assists. They put Spurs up to fifth place two seasons running, beat Chelsea in the Carling Cup and had two decent runs in the UEFA Cup. In his first season Berbatov was one of only 3 players in the Premier League Team of the Year outside of Man Utd and in 2007 Robbie Keane scored the most Premiership goals in a calendar year. Such was the success of their partnership that they shared the Premier League Player of the Month award for April 2007, only the second time the award had been jointly awarded. Since then however both players’ out puts have declined dramatically since moving on – which begs the question, what’s happened?

The stats tell us that they play best when they are playing together. In the two years since their moves their stats have more or less halved. Neither have become bad players, but during their time at Spurs they had a striking partner who suited their individual playing styles. Berbatov played as the target man who could provide flick-ons for Keane, but Keane could also drop deep, pick up the ball from midfield and set up goals for Berbatov. They were both sure of their own roles, and of what the other would be doing. But inevitably the big four came knocking and away they went.

Then the story turned sour. Keane never settled at Liverpool and was back at Spurs within six months, but failed to re-find his scoring touch. Berbatov went to United but failed to live up to his price tag and being just another star in a team full of superstars. But the time while they were together will be the time when they are remembered – remembered as perhaps the best forward partnership in Premier League history.

Written By Karl Sears

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