Shay Given
Shay Given, Man City & Ireland
Born : 20th April 1976, Lifford, County Donegal.
Occupation : Professional Footballer.
Family: Married to Jane, two children Jane aged 6 and Siena aged 3 years.
Home: Live in Manchester.
Football Career: as a youngster, I used to watch my Dad play football- he was a goalkeeper and it was he who encouraged me to be a goalkeeper - maybe he was saying I wasn't any good outfield! When I was 14 I was playing for Lifford Celtic. At 16 I went across to Glasgow Celtic and moved from there to Blackburn, where Kenny Dalglish was at time. In 1997 I joined Newcastle and left them in 2009 to join Manchester City.
Secret of Success: I suppose looking back on it, I didn't think I would achieve everything I have achieved and to be playing at the level I'm at...the key if anything is simply hard work. I've always worked hard at my game.
Most Proud of: winning my 100th cap for Ireland in a World Cup qualifier against Montenegro on 14th October 2009 at Croke Park.
Worst Moment: the injury against West Ham in 2007 was one of them. I was out for two months which is bad enough, but it could have been a lot worse...Then there was the France World Cup play-off but let's not go there!
Funniest Moment: depends who you are talking to! When a keeper makes a mistake a lot of people can think it's very comical except the keeper!
Advice for someone starting out in a Career as Professional sportsman: Enjoy it as much as you can for as long as you can. When you reach the level I'm at the pressures can be very intense and some of the enjoyment can go out of it. Otherwise, work extremely hard, listen to what the coaches say and take the advice on board.
What is the best thing about being a professional footballer: Doing something you really like and being paid well for it.
Who is your favourite footballer: Difficult one..it used to be Thierry Henry!
Winning a Trophy: It will take time for the new manager to make his impact for the new setup and ideas to bed in and settle down..but I think we can go on and win something.
After Football: Havn't though a lot about it to be honest..you can't think too far ahead in football, because you never know what is around the corner. One of these days I'll have to really sit down and think it through. Hopefully there's a good few years left in me yet!
Music: I like a lot of different stuff...R&B, dance, chart, Irish music.
Favourite Other Sport: I play a lot of golf- it's a great way of relaxing and getting a break from the pressure.
GIVEN ON CRICKET
To be honest I don't know all the rules....but I guess like everyone else when Ireland were playing in the World Cup in '07 and being successful I was looking in, cheering them on.
Cricket has a tough time in Ireland because of the competition with the GAA, football and rugby, so many people don't look beyond that. The only reason I don't have a big interest in it is because I wasn't exposed to it growing up.
My main link with cricket is through Steve Harmison - he's a big Newcastle fan and often trained with us when I was there. He's a good guy....interesting to talk to as a fellow professional sportsman in a different arena.
Shay Given in conversation with Liam Rooney
Copyright: Cover Point
