One of Ireland's greatest goalkeepers Shay Given has officially announced his retirement from the game...we think!
The legendary stopper called time on his international career after Euro 2016 and has been without a club since leaving Stoke last summer.
However, he has avoided announcing his retirement from the game altogether...until now.
Given spoke exclusively to 98FM’s Now That’s What I Call Sport today, where he addressed the rumours:
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Listen to the interview in full:
Asked whether or not he has officially retired, Given replied "I think I have, yeah. I definitely have.
“I haven’t officially announced it but I’ve not played since last season”, he told Jamie Moore.
“But I guess you've just officially retired me.”
“I might get the odd (charity) game down the road..but not professional I wouldn’t think.”
Given did, however, leave the door open for one last challenge, joking "the season's not over yet, so somebody could emergency sign me for the last week just to play one game. Or I could be playing for Finn Harps!
The Donegal native has admitted he has had offers since departing Stoke last summer.
“A few different clubs asked me about coming in as a back-up and a few lower divisions asked me to come play.”
“They just didn’t tickle my fancy, you have to want to go there and dedicate yourself which get’s harder at 41.”
“I just didn’t wanna go and get paid for bringing nothing to the party.”
Given also looked back to a Republic of Ireland game away to France in Lyon at Euro 2016 where he felt he knew his time in the green jersey was up.
“It was special, it was a nice moment to go and see the fans, they always stay till the end.”
“Just waving to the crowd cause I knew that was it.”
“The party was over and my journey was over as an international.”
Also on this morning’s show we continued our League Of Ireland coverage with St. Pats midfielder James Doona and Shamrock Rovers head coach Stephen Bradley. John Small spoke ahead of Dublin’s Allianz football League Final against Galway at Croke Park. Ireland and Arsenal women’s star Louise Quinn on her dream to play at the World Cup. Leinster captain Isa Ncewa and head coach Leo Cullen looked ahead to their Champions Cup quarter final against Saracens.
Listen to the show in full here:
Now That’s What I Call Sport is live every Sunday morning from 9am on 98FM.
