A veteran with a 20-year playing career, creating Premier League jokes and providing technical assistance at Manchester City [liuying]


If we were to select the shardest striker in Newcastle's history, Alan Shearer, the all-time top scorer in the Premier League, would undoubtedly be the No. 1 male. But if we were to draw the strongest shield in the club's history, the Irishman Shay Girvin would also be far ahead.

According to statistics, during his twelve years at Newcastle, Given made a total of 463 appearances. Although he did not become the club's all-time top scorer, it did not prevent him from being the beloved guardian of the penalty area.

Although Given failed to have a "good ending" at St James' Stadium and criticized the club's inaction in the later stage of his career, it does not deserve the Irishman's historical status. He has been selected for the Premier League's Team of the Year twice. In 2020, when BBC selected the top ten goalkeepers in Premier League history, his name was included along with that of Schmeichel, De Gea and Heiman.

It is worth mentioning that when Shearer announced his retirement in 2006, Girvin took over the captain's armband without hesitation. However, when Newcastle's defense was in a mess, Shearer, as a commentator, fell into nostalgic thoughts: "Our current goalkeeper does not have the ball distribution ability that Girvin had back then." "

Gwan was nicknamed "The High Wall" in his youth. He made his debut with his hometown team Liford at the age of 15 and signed with the Scottish Premier League powerhouse Celtic at 16. However, as a young man with less experience, he could only be a bystander on the bench for two years. The offer from Blackburn was not a lifeline. In other words, being a rookie in the Premier League was just waiting in a new environment.