Shay Given [1996 - current]
| Born | Lifford | Eire | 20 / 4 / 1976 |
| Arrived | Blackburn | 6 / 1997 | £1,500,000 |
| Debut | Sheff Wed H | 09/08/97 | |
| Departed | |||
| App - Gls | 413/ 1 | 0 |
[Appearances up until end of 2006/07]
Shay Given has been at United for over 10 years and in that time has amassed over 400 appearances. With over 80 Eire caps he is by far United's most capped player ever.
His agility and reactions which make him a world class shot stopper and his heroics have won the day for United on many an occasion.
However his critics argue that his reluctance to deal with crosses means that he does not have the dominating presence that would make him one of the world's top 'keepers.
Despite his obvious strengths he has a strangely poor record at penalty saving.
After a spell at Celtic Kenny Dalglish took him to Blackburn Rovers where he was understudy to Tim Flowers. A lack of first team opportunities led to loan spells at Swindon and Sunderland
Dalglish took him to United in the summer of 1997 on a "Bosman" as his contract had expired but United still had to fork out a a fee of £1.5 million.
He was put straight into the first team Given immediately and was the established number one until he lost his confidence and ultimately his place to Steve Harper just before the 1999 FA Cup Final
In the following campaign he wasn't happy sharing duties with Harper and slapped in a transfer request which he later withdrew.
Throughout the first six campaigns of the 2000s Given was almost ever present and he signed a new contract in the summer of 2006. But a series of injuried during 2006/07 saw him miss half the games.
Further injury problems in 2007/08 have caused Shay more grief and Allardyce has on occasion stuck with Harper even when he has been fit.