10 Players Who Regret Leaving Newcastle United

9. Shay Given

A man who made over 400 appearances for the club and an icon to many Newcastle fans, Shay Given traded it all in for a move to big spending Manchester City six months before Newcastle's relegation. Although he wasn't a product of the club's academy, his development is more or less down to the Magpies, who he joined in 1997. The Irish goalkeeper earned a reputation as one of the best in the Premier League, if not the world, during his twelve year stay at St James; Park, playing in the Champions League under both Kenny Dalglish and the late, great Sir Bobby Robson.

However, as the fortunes of the club declined, many felt Given could do better and in January 2009, just days after a 5-1 humiliation at the hands of a Steven Gerrard inspired Liverpool, and while Newcastle were at their lowest ebb in many years, Given walked away.

While at the Etihad Stadium, Given enjoyed a season and a half of regular football before being ousted by Joe Hart, only making Cup appearances in 2010/11. Despite picking up and FA Cup winner's medal, his time in Manchester City can't be classed as a success, he was then shipped off to Aston Villa. It was a similar story in Birmingham too, a year after regular football under Alex McLeish, new manager Paul Lambert replaced him with understudy Brad Guzan and the rest, as they say, is history.

It is a real possibility that with Shay Given in the side, Newcastle wouldn't have gone down and with the benefit of hindsight, perhaps he would feel that staying at Newcastle would have been for the best.