Richard Dunne
Nationality :
Irish
Date of Birth :
21/09/1979
Height :
6' 2" (188cm)
Weight :
15st 0lbs (95.34kg)
Squad Number :
5
Previous Clubs :
Manchester City, Everton
Position :
Defender
Richard Dunne finished the 2010-11 season in imperious form for Villa and boss Alex McLeish will be looking for an entire campaign of class from the steady stopper this time around.
Dunne was dropped from the side after a loss of form following the 3-0 away defeat to Liverpool in December 2010, with Carlos Cuellar filling in for the experienced stopper.
He returned to the side for the cracking 3-3 away day at Stamford Bridge and continued to forge an impressive partnership with James Collins before dislocating his shoulder in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester City at Eastlands.
He finally returned to the team for the 2-2 draw at Everton and performed wonders at the back as Villa surged to ninth in the table in the closing weeks of the campaign.
McLeish has already insisted Dunne has a major part to play in his Villa revolution as a classy defender and an important voice in the dressing room.
Manchester City's loss was, without question, Villa's gain as Dunne signed on the dotted line in the August 2009 transfer window.
Dunne was a real favourite at City having signed for the club in a £3m deal in October 2000.
Not only did Dunne clock up 290 league appearances and 55 more outings in the cup but he wrote his name in the history books by being voted Player of the Year on four successive occasions.
It didn't take him long to do exactly the same at Villa Park as he was voted Players' Player of the Year after his sterling performances in claret and blue in 2009-10.
Looking to strengthen Villa's weakened defence, following Martin Laursen's frustrating retirement from the game, O'Neill opted for the City legend.
The £5m spent will surely go down as some of the best business ever after the defensive colossus produced magnificent display after magnificent display.
He formed a rock-solid partnership with Collins and even managed to pop up with vital goals throughout the campaign, the best coming against Chelsea, Manchester City and Hull.
Dunne made his name at City but he started his Premier League adventure at Everton.
When he arrived from Goodison Park, Dunne played at right-back before shifting into the middle where he formed an impressive double act with Sylvain Distin.
His club form propelled him to centre stage with the Republic of Ireland. He has become an integral part of their set up and now has over 50 caps to his name.
Mark Hughes was the fifth different City manager under whom Dunne played. It was the third of them Stuart Pearce - after Joe Royle and Kevin Keegan - who handed him the captain's armband at the start of the 2006-07 season.
Dunne was on the pitch for every minute of every City game that season, both league and cup, and went on to land the Player of the Year honours for the third successive time.
Twelve months later he made history by picking up the coveted award for the fourth time.
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