Shay Given says he quit Manchester City for Aston Villa in search of regular first team football.
Given was supplanted as City's first-choice keeper by Joe Hart last season and the 35-year-old felt did not want to spend another campaign sitting on the bench.
"I'd met (new Villa manager) Alex (McLeish) a few times before over the past few years and been very impressed with him as a man and he's been a very successful manager as well so when I got the call and knew there was huge interest, I was delighted to follow it up," he said.
"It was a frustrating season at Man City but there's nothing much you can do. The manager made a decision and you've got to respect that and take it on the chin and you have to move on.
"For me it's about playing football. You've got one career and I want to play as much as I can. It was frustrating but I'm not having a go at anyone - that's just how I felt. I've played for most of my career and not to be playing for a season was very tough.
"I've just turned 35 and I'm at a stage in my career where I need to be playing regularly - that was all I was thinking.
"Manchester City are going to be a big club in world football, not just in the Premier League, so it was a tough decision but for me, it was the right one."
