Aston Villa's Shay Given backs Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart for England captaincy

The Irishman uses Dino Zoff and Iker Casillas as examples to show that goalkeeping captains can be successful and sees no reason why his former team-mate cannot take the role on

10-Feb-2012 5:34:40 AM

By Michael Lightfoot

More On :  Aston Villa, England, Manchester City, Shay Given, Joe Hart
Pre Season Friendly - Walsall v Aston Villa, Shay Given
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Aston Villa goalkeeper Shay Given has backed Manchester City's Joe Hart to take over as England captain after John Terry was stripped of the role.

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Hart has now established himself as first-choice No.1 for club and country and has been touted amongst the favourites to take over the armband.

And Given, a former team-mate of Hart, sees no reason as to why he should not be a contender as goalkeepers for other countries have been successful as captains in the past.

He told Sky Sports: "It depends on what manager comes in I suppose because a lot of managers, for some reason, don't want to give the goalkeeper the captain's armband which I think is a bit strange.

"Joe could be a captain no problem. Dino Zoff won the World Cup with Italy and in more recent times Iker Casillas won the World Cup and European Championship with Spain so I definitely think a goalkeeper can wear the armband.

"Joe is very established in the England team as well as Man City and he's the first name on the teamsheet and that will be for the foreseeable future.

"There's different players putting themselves forward, but it depends how long they are going to be around the England squad and long-term Joe is going to be a big part of that.

"But it will all depend on who they bring in as new manager."

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