TheSportsCampus

Veteran Republic of Ireland Goalkeeper Shay Given has agreed a 5-year deal with Aston Villa as he seeks to revive his Premier League career after being relegated to the number two spot between the sticks at the Etihad Stadium. Given, the most capped Irish player with 113 international appearances, who was initially signed by City on the final day of the winter transfer window in 2009 for £7 million, will look to resurrect the dying embers of his Goalkeeping career as he becomes part of the Alex Mcleish era at Villa Park. Aston Villa now have a stalwart, dependable figure amidst their ranks after Brad Friedel signed for Tottenham this summer on a two-year deal subsequent to his contract expiry with the Villans.

Largely reduced to a bench role at Eastlands ever since the emergence of Joe Hart post the FIFA World Cup, the clock had been ticking on his City stint for some time. The 35 year old, who is widely held to be one of the Premier League’s most consistent Goalies, would do well to take inspiration from the recently retired United custodian Edwin Van Der Sar in terms of how to prolong one’s career at the highest level. The offer of a 5-year deal appears more than a tad generous and could be one of the major reasons behind him joining Aston Villa.

The superb shot-stopper spent twelve good years at St. James’ Park from 1997 to 2009, in what was the most memorable period of his career, facing all kinds of ups and downs with the Tyne-siders. From a Champions League adventure in the era of Bobby Robson to playing half of their relegation season in 08-09, Given fast emerged as a fan-favourite and a figure synonymous with Newcastle United. It was his form for the Magpies and even Ireland that raised his profile considerably, with his previous manager Roberto Mancini also heralding him as one of the five best goalkeepers in the world at one point of time. With a summer of ins and outs hotting up at Eastlands, the arrival of Given ar Aston Villa is sure to benefit the midlands club as he’s bound to bring a certain degree of assuredness, calm and undoubted ability between the sticks at Villa Park.

Given completed his medical at the weekend and reportedly inked a deal on Monday morning. Speaking to the club's official website Shay said, "Aston Villa is a huge football club and I'm really excited to be joining. I'm looking forward to training and playing with the players here. They're a good bunch of lads, very talented and I know several of them already which will help.

"Everyone knows that I didn't play enough football last season, so I'm really pleased that I'll be able to put that right here. Hopefully, this move will get me back to where I was before in the Premier League, which is where every player wants to be playing.

"Obviously, I'm also excited to be working with Alex McLeish and it's going to be a fresh start for everybody at the club this season. It's also a new challenge and one I'm eager to embrace. My aim is to impress the Aston Villa supporters with my performances and I can't wait really to get started."

New Villa manager Alex McLeish welcomed his new signing, "Shay has come here probably with something of a point to prove and that won't do any harm at all. Everybody who has watched him perform over many years in the Premier League will know his pedigree, so we believe we have secured the services of one of the best goalkeepers in the business. He's a real competitor and a world-class keeper and I'm delighted he's the first signing I've made at Villa."

File Photograph Copyright: Alfonso Jimenez