Big Sunday Mercury Interview: Paul McGrath on Richard Dunne and being an Aston Villa fan

Sep 18 2011 by Gregg Evans, Sunday Mercury

PAUL McGrath’s colourful career saw him play alongside some of football’s greatest ever players.

But there’s one man he would have loved to team up next to in claret and blue – Villa’s Richard Dunne.

The Holte End hero recently hailed Dunne’s performance for his country as the best he had ever seen from a Republic of Ireland centre-half, including himself.

And it was after that heroic performance against Russia in the vital Euro 2012 qualifier that he realised just how immense Dunne has been in recent times.

“What is a massive shame for me is that I didn’t get the chance to play alongside him with Villa or Ireland,” said the Villa legend.

“Richard, to me, is one of those players who when you see him walking out on to a football pitch beside you, you know you’re going to be okay.

“You know he will have your back, and you know he will be there to throw his life on the line for the team.