Shay Given signed a five-year deal with Aston Villa earlier in the week and as you would imagine the 35-year-old Republic of Ireland keeper is delighted with the move away from Manchester City.
‘I have not come here to rest up, I have come here to prove I am a top Premier League keeper,’ he said.
‘I am grateful to get that length of contract but I do believe I can play for many more years – even beyond that.’
‘I was speaking to Trapattoni in the summer and he was talking about Dino Zoff who he had when he was 42.’
‘I believe if you do the right stuff in the gym and look after yourself you can play a lot longer, especially as a goalkeeper. That is my aim – to play as long as I can.’
Given replaces a goalkeeper in Friedel who made 131 appearances for Villa during his three-year career at Villa Park, and he believes that he has a difficult job replacing the American.
‘He has done fantastically well and Villa fans will be grateful for the fantastic service he gave to the club,’ Given added.
‘He has gone on now to Tottenham and he had a fantastic time here so hopefully I can do something similar and be a reliable source behind the very good defence that we have.’
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