Richard Dunne

Richard Patrick Dunne (born 21 September 1979) is an Irish former professional footballer and current television pundit for BT Sport, who played as a centre-back. He made 431 Premier League appearances, including 253 for Manchester City.

For other people named Richard Dunne or Dunn, see Richard Dunn (disambiguation).

Richard Dunne
Dunne playing for the Republic of Ireland in 2013
Personal information
Full name Richard Patrick Dunne[1]
Date of birth (1979-09-21) 21 September 1979[2]
Place of birth Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Centre-back
Youth career
–1994 Home Farm
1994–1996 Everton
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1996–2000 Everton 60 (0)
2000–2009 Manchester City 296 (7)
2009–2013 Aston Villa 95 (4)
2013–2015 Queens Park Rangers 64 (1)
Total 515 (12)
International career
1997–1999 Republic of Ireland B 2 (1)
2000–2013 Republic of Ireland 80 (8)
Medal record
Representing  Republic of Ireland
Men's association football
UEFA European Under-18 Championship
Gold medal – first place1998 Cyprus
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Dunne began his professional career at Everton. He later spent nearly a decade at Manchester City before joining Aston Villa in 2009. In July 2013, he signed for Queens Park Rangers. He has also played internationally for the Republic of Ireland from 2000 until 2014. With Ireland he was a member of the 2002 FIFA World Cup squad and played in UEFA Euro 2012. Dunne announced his retirement from football in November 2015 after being released by Queens Park Rangers.

Dunne holds the joint Premier League record of being sent off – eight times along with Patrick Vieira and Duncan Ferguson.[3] He also holds the Premier League record of scoring ten own goals.

Club career

Everton

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

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.[4]

Manchester City
Dunne captaining Manchester City in 2008 against Manchester United in a local derby.

In the autumn of 2000, Dunne was signed by Manchester City for a fee of £3.5 million, rejoining his former manager Joe Royle.[5] 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. 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.[6]

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."[7]

On 4 July 2008, Dunne signed a new four-year contract with Manchester City to keep him at the club until 2012.[8]

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."[9]

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,[10] while his eighth Premier League red card against Wigan Athletic in January 2009 equalled a record set by Patrick Vieira and Duncan Ferguson.[11]

Aston Villa

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. Villa confirmed on 27 August 2009, that they had agreed a fee with Manchester City for the defender.[12] 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,[13] when the deal was completed.[14] 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.

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". On 26 September 2010, Dunne played the full 90 minutes alongside Collins against Blackburn Rovers at Ewood Park in a 2–1 defeat.[15]

On 5 October 2009, Dunne scored his first goal for Villa, coincidentally against his former club Manchester City, in a 1–1 draw.[16] He was applauded by Manchester City fans for his respect in refusing to celebrate his goal.[17] He netted his second goal later that month in the team's 2–1 home victory over Chelsea. On 28 February 2010, he started for Aston Villa in their 2010 Football League Cup Final defeat to Manchester United at Wembley Stadium. He was named in the PFA Team of the Year for the 2009–10 season.

On 21 November 2010, he started and played the full 90 minutes alongside Ciaran Clark against Blackburn Rovers in a 2–0 defeat at Ewood Park. On 11 December 2010, Dunne was dropped from the team and replaced by Carlos Cuéllar. Dunne was recalled to the starting line up in the away game against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge which Villa ended up drawing 3–3. On 1 February 2011, he started and completed the full 90 minutes alongside James Collins in the Premier League game with Manchester United at Old Trafford in a 3–1 defeat.

On 18 March 2011, Dunne and Collins were fined a total of £200,000 – two weeks' wages each – by Villa for a drunken confrontation with club staff during a team-bonding exercise.[18]

At the end of the 2010–11 season, Dunne made 35 appearances in all competitions for Villa. Ahead of the 2011–12 season, new manager Alex McLeish has said because of his aerial ability and such good awareness on the ball he will be an automatic first choice at the back. On 27 July 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes in the 1–0 victory over Blackburn Rovers in the 2011 Premier League Asia Trophy held in Hong Kong. On 30 July 2011, he started the final with Chelsea and also completed the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 defeat.

On 12 February 2012, Dunne fractured his right clavicle in a collision with Joe Hart during a Premier League match against his former club Manchester City. He had surgery in Birmingham the following day.[19] Dunne travelled to the NFL team the Cleveland Browns in order to attain specialised medical care for his injury, who at the time were owned by then-chairman of Aston Villa, Randy Lerner.[20]

In May 2013, manager Paul Lambert announced that the Irishman was being released on a free transfer.

Queens Park Rangers
Dunne (left) marking Eden Hazard whilst playing for Queens Park Rangers.

Dunne joined Queens Park Rangers on 15 July 2013, on a free transfer.[21] He made his first QPR appearance against Exeter City in the League Cup. He scored his first goal for Rangers against Burnley on 1 February 2014.[22] In his first season at QPR he made a total of 45 appearances scoring one goal and was part of the team that won promotion back to the Premier League via the 2014 Football League Championship play-off final against Derby County.[23][24]

Dunne holds the unfortunate record of the most own goals in the Premier League, scoring his tenth in a 3–2 defeat against Liverpool on 19 October 2014, in a game which saw QPR score two own goals to hand Liverpool the victory.[25]

QPR were eventually relegated that season, finishing in last place with 20 more goals conceded than any other side. Dunne made a total of 24 appearances.

On 31 May 2015, Dunne's contract expired and, along with five other players he was released by the club. There was considerable speculation regarding his plans after QPR and he was linked with moves to MLS, the Indian Super League and the League of Ireland.[26] None of these materialized however, and he formally announced his retirement from football in November 2015. He now lives with his wife and two children in Monte Carlo.[27]

International career
Richard Dunne after a famous performance for Ireland against Russia in Moscow. Dunne's contributions helped seal eventual qualification for UEFA Euro 2012.

Dunne played for the Republic of Ireland national under-19 football team in the 1997 UEFA European Under-18 Football Championship finals in Iceland. Dunne made his debut for the Republic of Ireland on 26 April 2000 in a 1–0 loss against Greece in a friendly match.[28] His first international goal came just two months later in only his third cap as he scored on 4 June against Mexico, helping his team come from 2–0 down to drawing 2–2.[29] He was selected by Mick McCarthy to play against the likes of the Netherlands and Portugal during Ireland's successful 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, where he also scored his first competitive international goal in a 2–0 win against Estonia.

Dunne was part of the Irish squad that played at the 2002 FIFA World Cup, but the centre-half pairing of Gary Breen and Steve Staunton (the latter of whom became team captain following the departure of Roy Keane) was favoured by Mick McCarthy, meaning Dunne did not even make an appearance as a substitute. The emergence of John O'Shea, and Brian Kerr's preference for Kenny Cunningham, meant that Dunne's chances with Ireland were extremely limited during their unsuccessful attempt to qualify for UEFA Euro 2004. He did score his fourth international goal in a friendly against Turkey just prior to the end of the campaign. Dunne again found himself out of favour with Kerr during the qualification campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, only featuring in the final three matches which included a 1–0 defeat to France, a game that ultimately cost Ireland qualification. Another change of manager for Ireland saw Dunne's former teammate, Steve Staunton, use him during the majority of the Euro 2008 qualifying campaign. Early defeats to Germany and a humiliating 5–2 loss to Cyprus, a match in which Dunne scored before giving away a penalty and being sent off,[30] ensured qualification was always beyond the Irish. Dunne only missed three of the twelve matches, due to suspension and injury rather than form.

Giovanni Trapattoni was appointed Ireland manager for the qualification campaign ahead of the 2010 FIFA World Cup[31] and cemented Dunne as Ireland's first choice central defender. Dunne played in all ten games helping Ireland finish second and qualify for a play-off whilst also scoring goals in both 1–1 draws with Bulgaria, as well as winning the man of the match award in the away game held in Sofia.[32] He also played the entire matches in both legs against France, as Ireland were controversially knocked out 2–1 on aggregate after extra-time. Dunne was famously pictured sitting distraught on the pitch in Paris as Thierry Henry, who assisted William Gallas' winning goal after controlling the ball with his hand, consoled Dunne.[33][34]

On 8 February 2011, Dunne started and completed the full 90 minutes in Ireland's first Nations Cup game against Wales in a 3–0 win. On 26 March 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes in the Group B Euro 2012 qualifying against Macedonia in a 2–1 victory at the Aviva Stadium. On 10 August 2011, he started and played the full 90 minutes alongside Sean St. Ledger in the goalless draw against Croatia at the Aviva Stadium.[35]

On 6 September 2011, Dunne started and played the full 90 minutes in the goalless draw against Russia in Moscow. Dunne gave perhaps the best performance of his career, winning the man of the match award as he almost single-handedly stopped a Russian team which totally dominated midfield and created wave after wave of attacks. Former Ireland defender Paul McGrath described Dunne's heroics as the best performance from an Irish central defender he had ever witnessed, including his own performance against Italy in the 1994 FIFA World Cup.

Dunne in action for Ireland in September 2013.

On 11 October 2011, Dunne started and played the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 victory for Ireland over Armenia at the Aviva Stadium which gained them a play-off spot for UEFA Euro 2012, scoring in the 60th minute his eighth goal on his 69th international appearance for his country.[36][37] After the team qualified for UEFA Euro 2012 with an unprecedented 5–1 aggregate play-off win over their opponents Estonia, Dunne described it as "the best experience I've probably had in football".[38][39] He started in all three of Ireland's Group C matches at UEFA Euro 2012, as they were defeated 3–1 by Croatia, 4–0 by Spain, and 2–0 by Italy.

On 2 June 2013, Dunne made his return to the national team for the first time in a year as a second half substitution against Georgia in a 4–0 Irish win. Dunne made his return to the Irish team in his first competitive game for 15 months in a 1–2 loss to Sweden at the Aviva Stadium in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying.

On 31 July 2014, Dunne retired from international football.

Media career

After retiring in 2015 he joined BT Sport as a pundit for their coverage of the Premier League, FA Cup, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Dunne has been praised for his insightful and opinionated style of punditry.[40]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[41]
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Continental Other[lower-alpha 1] Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Everton 1996–97 Premier League 701000000080
1997–98 301000000040
1998–99 16020200000200
1999–2000 31040100000360
2000–01 300010000040
Total 60080400000720
Manchester City 2000–01 Premier League 25030000000280
2001–02 Division 1 43130300000491
2002–03 Premier League 25000100000260
2003–04 29050204000400
2004–05 35110000000361
2005–06 32350100000383
2006–07 38150100000441
2007–08 36030300000420
2008–09 311101014000471
2009–10 200000000020
Total 2967260120180003527
Aston Villa 2009–10 Premier League 35340500000443
2010–11 32020100000350
2011–12 28121200000322
2012–13 000000000000
Total 954818000001115
Queens Park Rangers 2013–14 Championship 41100100030451
2014–15 Premier League 2300010000240
Total 64100200030691
Career total 515124212601803060413
  1. Includes Football League play-offs

International
Scores and results list Republic of Ireland's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Dunne goal.
List of international goals scored by Richard Dunne
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
14 June 2000Soldier Field, Chicago, United States Mexico2–22000 U.S. Cup
211 October 2000Lansdowne Road, Dublin Estonia2–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
36 June 2001Lilleküla Stadium, Tallinn, Estonia Estonia2–02002 FIFA World Cup qualification
49 September 2003Lansdowne Road, Dublin Turkey2–2Friendly
57 October 2006Neo GSP Stadium, Nicosia, Cyprus Cyprus2–5UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying
628 March 2009Croke Park, Dublin Bulgaria1–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
76 June 2009Vasil Levski National Stadium, Sofia, Bulgaria Bulgaria1–12010 FIFA World Cup qualification
811 October 2011Aviva Stadium, Dublin Armenia2–1UEFA Euro 2012 qualifying

Honours

Everton

Manchester City

Aston Villa

Queens Park Rangers

Republic of Ireland

Individual

References
  1. "Premier League clubs submit squad lists". Premier League. 1 September 2010. Archived from the original on 3 September 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  2. "Richard Dunne Profile". Premier League. Retrieved 31 August 2020.
  3. GiveMeSport.com
  4. ToffeeWeb.com.
  5. "Dunne signs for Man City". BBC Sport. 16 October 2000. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  6. Oscroft, Tim (20 July 2006). "Dunne is new Club Captain". Manchester City F.C. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  7. Taylor, Daniel (12 January 2008). "Eriksson leads the acclaim for reformed monster Dunne". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  8. "Richard Dunne signs new Man City contract". The Daily Telegraph. London. 4 July 2008. Archived from the original on 23 July 2008. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  9. Winter, Henry (22 August 2008). "Gary Cook seeks magic recipe..." The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 24 August 2008. Retrieved 23 January 2010.
  10. Whyatt, Chris (21 September 2008). "Man City 6–0 Portsmouth". BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 July 2009.
  11. Cheese, Caroline (17 January 2009). "Premier League as it happened". BBC Sport. Retrieved 17 January 2009.
  12. "Dunne Fee Agreed". Aston Villa F.C. 27 August 2009. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  13. "Dunne deal delay". Sky Sports. 1 September 2009. Retrieved 1 September 2009.
  14. "Villa tie up Dunne deal". Sky Sports. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 2 September 2009.
  15. "Dunne: Classy Combination | Latest News | Aston Villa". Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  16. "Aston Villa 1–1 Man City". BBC Sport. 5 October 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  17. "Subdued Dunne resists celebration". BBC Sport. 6 October 2009. Retrieved 6 October 2009.
  18. "Dunne and Collins are fined by Villa". Express & Star. 18 March 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2012.
  19. "Dunne facing shoulder operation". RTÉ Sport. 13 February 2012. Archived from the original on 15 February 2012. Retrieved 13 February 2012.
  20. "Dunne heads Stateside to aid recovery". RTÉ Sport. 20 March 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  21. "Richard Dunne: Queens Park Rangers sign Ireland international". BBC Sport. 15 July 2013. Retrieved 15 July 2013.
  22. "QPR 3–3 Burnley". BBC Sport. 1 February 2014. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  23. "Queens Park Rangers 1 Derby County 0, Championship play-off final: match report". The Telegraph. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  24. "QPR's Bobby Zamora breaks Derby hearts with last-minute play-off winner". The Guardian. 24 May 2014. Retrieved 26 May 2014.
  25. Jurejko, Jonathan (19 October 2014). "Queens Park Rangers 2–3 Liverpool". BBC Sport. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  26. "Former Man City defender Richard Dunne looking for next challenge after QPR exit". Daily Mirror. 31 May 2015. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  27. "Richard Dunne and dusted: Irish legend at ease in retirement". Irish Examiner. 16 April 2016. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  28. "First Cap: Ireland v Greece 26/04/00". FAI. 28 April 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  29. "Ireland overcomes two goal deficit to tie Mexico 2–2". SoccerTimes.com. 4 June 2000. Archived from the original on 13 May 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  30. Haughey, John (7 October 2006). "Cyprus 5–2 Republic of Ireland". BBC Sport. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  31. "Giovanni Trapattoni appointed as Republic of Ireland manager". The Times. London. 13 February 2008. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  32. "Bulgaria 1–1 Ireland". RTÉ Sport. 6 June 2009. Archived from the original on 10 August 2009. Retrieved 10 September 2009.
  33. "Dunne ready to put Paris behind him". RTÉ Sport. 4 December 2009. Archived from the original on 5 June 2011.
  34. "Dunne disappointed and defiant". RTÉ Sport. 15 November 2009. Archived from the original on 26 February 2010.
  35. "France 1–1 Rep of Ire (agg 2–1)". BBC Sport. 18 November 2009. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  36. "Russia 0–0 Republic of Ireland". RTÉ Sport. 9 June 2011. Archived from the original on 7 October 2011. Retrieved 9 July 2011.
  37. McGrath, Paul [@Paulmcgrath5] (6 September 2011). "Richard Dunne congratulations The Best performance I have seen from any Irish centre half and that includes myself..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  38. "Duff – Euro qualification an 'amazing feeling'". RTÉ Sport. 15 November 2011. Archived from the original on 16 November 2011.
  39. "Republic boss Trapattoni 'proud' of Irish team". BBC Sport. 15 November 2011.
  40. Corless, Liam (10 December 2016). "Richard Dunne: Joe Hart could've prevented Man City's capitulation at Leicester". mirror. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  41. "Richard Dunne Career Stats". Soccerbase. 4 January 2010. Archived from the original on 11 January 2011. Retrieved 4 January 2010.
  42. "Robbie Keane earns Ireland deciding win over Scotland in Nations Cup". The Guardian. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 14 May 2020.
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