Richard Dunne

Richard Patrick Dunne (born 21 September 1979) is an Irish former professional footballer and current television pundit for TNT Sports, who played as a centre-back.

He made 431 Premier League appearances, including 253 for Manchester City.

Dunne began his professional career at Everton.

Dunne made his debut in a 1–0 win over Birmingham City at St. Andrew's, courtesy of an 85th-minute strike from Gabriel Agbonlahor.

Following the game, Dunne praised his new teammates James Collins, Carlos Cuéllar and Stephen Warnock, claiming that their partnership in defence "seems to have worked reasonably well".

Having played schoolboy football in Dublin for Home Farm, Dunne joined Everton as a 15-year-old schoolboy in the 1994–95 season.

The next season, he started to play for Everton reserves and in early 1997, Dunne signed a 5-year professional contract.

Dunne made his debut under then manager Joe Royle in 1997, at the age of seventeen.

Under Walter Smith, however, he was often used out of position at right back, and was punished by Smith for two separate disciplinary incidents.

Wimbledon reportedly had a bid accepted for Dunne, only for it to fall through, and Dunne stayed at Everton for another year, again usually filling in at right back.

He was part of the successful 1998 FA Youth Cup squad along with Tony Hibbert and Leon Osman.

He has also played internationally for the Republic of Ireland from 2000 until 2014.

In the autumn of 2000, Dunne was signed by Manchester City for a fee of £3.5 million, rejoining his former manager Joe Royle.

City had signed both Dunne and Laurent Charvet as replacements for right back Richard Edghill who had suffered from a dip in form.

It was in the centre of defence where Dunne made his biggest impact on the team.

Dunne had various partners in the centre of defence in his first season at the club and for a few games he played in a three-man defence with Andy Morrison and Steve Howey.

His first season saw City relegated into the First Division and acquire the services of a new manager, Kevin Keegan.

Manchester City made an instant return to the Premier League, finishing the 2001–02 season as First Division champions.

With Ireland he was a member of the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad and played in UEFA Euro 2012.

Disciplinary problems in 2003 resulted in a club suspension, and his time at Manchester City looked to be over.

However, Dunne returned to the first team following an intensive fitness programme, and within a few months gained an international recall.

A number of consistent performances resulted in Dunne receiving Manchester City's Player of the Year award for 2004–05, which he also won in the 2005–06, 2006–07 and 2007–08 seasons, becoming the first player to win City's PotY award four times.

In the 2006 close season, at the age of 26, Dunne was appointed club captain, taking over from Sylvain Distin, amidst rumours of Distin leaving City.

On 18 January 2007, Manchester City teammate Micah Richards said:

"Ever since I've come to this club Richard has just been quality. I play with him week in, week out and I think he's one of the best players I've played with. I've played with John Terry and Rio Ferdinand in the England squad but Richard is right up there with them."

On 4 July 2008, Dunne signed a new four-year contract with Manchester City to keep him at the club until 2012.

In August 2008, Garry Cook, chief executive of City, said "China and India are gagging for football content to watch and we're going to tell them that City is their content. We need a superstar to get through that door. Richard Dunne doesn't roll off the tongue in Beijing."

Dunne continued to play throughout 2008–09 making 47 starts in all competitions despite three red cards.

He marked his 29th Birthday with a goal in the 6–0 win against Portsmouth on 21 September 2008, while his eighth Premier League red card against Wigan Athletic in January 2009 equalled a record set by Patrick Vieira and Duncan Ferguson.

Following the signings of Kolo Touré and Joleon Lescott, it was reported that Dunne could leave the City of Manchester Stadium with Aston Villa the most likely destination.

He later spent nearly a decade at Manchester City before joining Aston Villa in 2009.

Villa confirmed on 27 August 2009, that they had agreed a fee with Manchester City for the defender.

Aston Villa filed the paperwork for the deal before the close of the transfer window but the Premier League announced that the deal could not be "ratified" until 2 September 2009, when the deal was completed.

Villa manager Martin O'Neill later stated the fee paid for Dunne was £5 million and that the player had signed a four-year deal.

On 26 September 2010, Dunne played the full 90 minutes alongside Collins against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in a 2–1 defeat.

In July 2013, he signed for Queens Park Rangers.

Dunne announced his retirement from football in November 2015 after being released by Queens Park Rangers.

He is currently employed as a youth coach in Manchester City's academy.

Dunne holds the joint Premier League record of being sent off – eight times along with Patrick Vieira and Duncan Ferguson.

He also holds the Premier League record of scoring ten own goals.