Shay Given steps away from Ireland duty

After 134 appearances and being selected for three major tournaments, Shay Given has retired from international football with Ireland to focus on his day-to-day grind at Stoke City.

The 40-year-old hangs up his gloves as the second-highest capped player in the country's history after Robbie Keane, placing himself firmly among the country's all-time greats.

Perhaps his most famous showing between the sticks for the Boys in Green was in a September 2011 bout with Russia in Moscow, when he somehow managed to keep the match scoreless with a string of fine saves.

Given then surprisingly retired just a year later, but returned to conclude his story two years after that, working as a valuable and influential member of the squad on the training pitches.

The County Donegal native's pride in turning out for his homeland is best revealed in where the goalkeeper's compensation for playing internationally goes.

"Shay gives it all away to charity. It's not hard to give up because it’s not a lot," his father Seamus revealed to the Donegal Daily in 2011. "It was about (the equivalent to) €300 when he started out and it hasn't gone up much since.

"It's not something Shay's interested in. He only wants to play."

Given acted as deputy to Darren Randolph at Euro 2016 as Ireland was knocked out in the Round of 16 by eventual finalist France.