Exclusive:Shay Given: Ex-Man City team-mate can follow in Mikel Arteta’s footsteps under the ‘master’ Pep Guardiola

Shay Given has said he hopes Richard Dunne can follow in the footsteps of Mikel Arteta and Enzo Maresca as he begins his new coaching position at Manchester City.

The former defender has taken up a role as the Under-18s assistant coach at City, where he’ll work under new arrival Oliver Reiss this season. Dunne, who spent time working with the club last season, is set to embark on his new venture following a hugely successful playing career that included over 350 appearances for City.

Given knows the 44-year-old well having played with him for a brief spell at the Etihad, but also at Aston Villa and on the international scene. Speaking exclusively to ManchesterWorld, the one-time Republic of Ireland stopper said Dunne is working in the perfect coaching environment.

“I think all coaches will be working under the master in Pep Guardiola,” claimed Given. “Even if he’ll mainly be with the youth team, just to work near Guardiola and the team around him will be invaluable if he can be under that umbrella. 

“You can imagine they’ll have many coaching meetings at different levels and where the coaches want to be and what they need to do and the targets they need to hit. I know Dunney will have his own thoughts and philosophies, but you only have to look at the coaches who have left Man City under Guardiola: Vincent Kompany is the Bayern Munich manager now, Enzo Maresca at Chelsea and Arteta is the Arsenal manager. 

“Guardiola has the reputation as the best in the world, so if you can work with him at any level you would learn so much.”

Dunne’s journey from miserly defender to coach of the country's brightest young talents, saw a brief stint in Monaco, where he worked with the club’s youth team. Given said that experience will prove invaluable for his former City colleague.

“He’s not just got this job on the back of being Richard Dunne the ex-player. He’s done his coaching badges and his apprenticeship out there [in Monaco],” said the 48-year-old. “I suppose being assistant coach will be another learning curve for him, maybe on the way to being a manager himself.

“He has a great history with the club,” Given added. “He was Player of the Year for three years on the bounce. A young Man City fan mightn’t know Richard Dunne and what he did for the club, but he was a brilliant servant and a brilliant player. He was a leader at the back so you would think it would come naturally to him.”

Shay Given is a brand ambassador for sports betting platform CopyBet. Visit CopyBet.com.