Richard Dunne

Football player infobox
playername = Richard Dunne


fullname = Richard Patrick Dunne
height = height|meters=1.88
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1979|9|21
cityofbirth = Dublin
countryofbirth = Republic of Ireland
currentclub = Manchester City
clubnumber = 22
position = Defender
youthyears = 1995–1996
youthclubs = Home Farm Everton
years = 1996–2000
2000–
clubs = Everton
Manchester City
caps(goals) = 060 (0)
266 (7)
nationalyears = 2000–
nationalteam = Republic of Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 043 (5)
pcupdate = 12:53, 23 September 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 19:56, 9 September 2008 (UTC)

Richard Patrick Dunne (Irish name: " Risteárd Ó Duinn ") (born September 21 1979 in Dublin) is an Irish footballer, who currently plays in the Premier League as a defender for Manchester City. He is nicknamed "Dunney Monster" because of his size (and therefore resemblance to the character who promotes Sugar Puffs).Fact|date=September 2008 He has a reputation for scoring own goals.

Career

Having played schoolboy football in Dublin for Home Farm, Dunne started his professional career in 1996 with Everton, making his debut at the age of 16. In the autumn of 2000 he was signed by Manchester City for a fee of £3 million. City had signed both Dunne and Laurent Charvet as replacements for right back Richard Edghill who had suffered from a dip in form. Despite playing his first few games in a blue shirt as a right back 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. 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 2005-6, 2006-7 and 2007-8 seasons becoming the first person to win City's PotY award four times. He has been capped 40 times for the Republic of Ireland, scoring five goals (as of 11 February 2008). Dunne was part of his country's squad at the 2002 FIFA World Cup though he did not play any football at that tournament.

On 20 July 2006, at the age of 26, Dunne was appointed club captain, taking over from Sylvain Distin, amidst rumours of Distin leaving City. [ [http://www.mcfc.co.uk/default.sps?pageid=115&pagegid=%7BDBD12D53%2D8346%2D431D%2DA04F%2D5D0F8664DE80%7D&newsid=348101&siteid=&pageno=&newscategory=&frommonth=&fromyear=&tomonth=&toyear= Dunne is new Club Captain] Tim Oscroft, www.mcfc.co.uk, 2006-07-20. Retrieved 2007-07-22.]

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.” [ [http://football.guardian.co.uk/News_Story/0,,2239680,00.html#article_continue Football: Eriksson leads the acclaim for reformed monster Dunne | Football | The Guardian ] ]

At the end of the 2006/2007 season, which was very poor in terms of the club, Richard won the club's player of the year award for a record third consecutive time.

On 20th April 2008, Dunne got a hamstring injury in the second half of a game against Portsmouth F.C. at the City of Manchester Stadium and he was replaced by Sam Williamson.

On May 11th Dunne was red-carded for a foul in the 15th minute against Tuncay of Middlesbrough, resulting in a penalty which Middlesbrough scored and damaging his club's chances of entering the UEFA cup via the 'Fair Play' system. Without their club captain Manchester City lost 1-8 to Middlesbrough, the Premier League's heaviest defeat since 1999. On July 4 2008, Dunne signed a new 4 year contract with Manchester City to keep him at the club until 2012.

References

External links

*FIFA player|179101
*soccerbase|id=10583|name=Richard Dunne