FORMER Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given has been inducted into the FAI Hall of Fame.
The Lifford man is one of six centurions for the Republic of Ireland Men’s Senior Team following his 134 appearances, which included a record 60 clean sheets.
Given featured at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 and 2016 UEFA European Championships with Ireland. He led the team out as captain on six occasions over the course of an international career that spawned 20 years.
At club level, Given registered 451 games in the English Premier League – a record for an Irish player – as he won the FA Cup with Manchester City, the UEFA Intertoto Cup with Newcastle United and was twice selected in the PFA Premier League Team of the Year.
He was inducted into the Hall of Fame as part of the 32nd FAI International Awards.
Shay Given remarked: “It is such an honour to see my name on the list of Hall of Fame winners alongside the likes of John Giles, Paul McGrath, Robbie Keane, Damien Duff, Liam Brady and Liam Tuohy to name just some of the legends who have received this award before me. Playing for Ireland always meant so much to me, it was the world to me, and I am delighted with this recognition.”
The former Lifford Celtic player started his professional career at Celtic. He was signed by Blackburn Rovers in 1994 and after loan spells with Swindon Town and Sunderland, he moved to Newcastle in 1997. He stayed at St James’ Park until 2009 when Mark Huges signed him for Manchester City, where he picked up an FA Cup winners’ medal. Spells at Aston Villa, Middlesbrough and Stoke City followed.
He would represent Ireland for twenty years, keeping 52 clean sheets. He announced his retirement after Euro 2016.
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