Aston Villa recruit Shay Given not concerned by age
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Your support makes all the difference.Shay Given and his new manager Alex McLeish agree age is no barrier to the goalkeeper enjoying success at Aston Villa.
Given has signed a five-year deal after moving to Villa Park from Manchester City, despite being 35 years of age.
But he insisted the length of the contract does not faze him, with both the Republic of Ireland international and boss McLeish pointing to Given's predecessor in the Villa goal, Brad Friedel, as an example.
"I'm not frightened by the five years, I'm quite looking forward to a great spell at Aston Villa," he said.
"You look at Brad Friedel, who's 40 and just signed a two-year contract at Tottenham, and Edwin van der Sar, who was 40 last season and probably had one of the best seasons of his career, so in terms of age, I want to play football as long as I can."
McLeish said he picked Given out of an impressive shortlist of goalkeepers due to his international and Premier League record.
"There were some great goalkeepers out there, including Ben Foster, but Shay was a long-term target," he said.
"I admired his huge international experience, and having done diligence on him over the years, I know what kind of character he is.
"He's a good five years younger than Brad Friedel, and Brad is still getting contracts in the Premier League at a fantastic level.
"I felt that he had the gravitas to come and play here."
Given made the move after being marginalised at Eastlands by the emergence of Joe Hart, who firmly established himself as number one for both City and England last season.
But he insists his confidence remains undiminished after remaining a regular fixture for his country - for whom he has won a record 113 caps.
"I think my confidence is okay because the Ireland games kept me going," he said.
"You do get a little bit rusty because you're not playing so many games, but I'm excited to be getting back and getting match-sharp again.
"My two young kids kept me busy.
"It's about not losing the confidence in your own ability."
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