Scotland legend Craig Gordon has announced his retirement from football at the age of 43.
The veteran goalkeeper hangs up his gloves after an epic career spanning a quarter of a century.
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‘I never wanted it to end’
Gordon, who started and finished his playing days with hometown club Hearts, was the oldest player at the 2026 World Cup, where he was part of Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad for the country’s first World Cup in 28 years โ which ended in another painful group-stage exit.
In an emotional farewell video released by Hearts, Gordon said: “I’ve never wanted it to end, but end it must.”
The Edinburgh-born goalie made his senior debut on loan at lower-league Cowdenbeath in 2001.
He debuted for Hearts the following year and eventually became first choice between the sticks, featuring 175 times in his first spell at Tynecastle.
Gordon moved south of the border to join Premier League club Sunderland in 2007, spending five years at the Stadium of Light.
However, we went two years without a club from 2012 to 2014 as he continued to battle patellar tendonitis, a chronic knee problem.
At the time, Gordon was advised by a surgeon to retire. He carried on.
Celtic eventually snapped him up and he went on to win five straight Scottish Premiership titles with the Old Firm giants.
Gordon returned to Hearts in 2020 and added a further 158 appearances to his tally for the club, playing a part as they pushed Celtic all the way in last season’s thrilling title race.
The three-time Scottish Football Writers’ Association Footballer of the Year went to this summer’s World Cup having overcome a potentially life-threatening injury this year.
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A slipped disc in Gordon’s beck caused a pinch nerve which led to weakness in his arm.
And he was told by a spinal specialist: “You’ve read the infortmation leaflet. You could get paralysis, you could die…”
But Gordon made it to the World Cup โ and though he didn’t make it onto the pitch, he ended his career with 84 Scotland caps.
Gordon did the ‘improbable’
Gordon retires as the fifth most-capped Scottish player of all time and the second most-capped goalkeeper, behind Jim Leighton.
“Everyone has dreams,” Gordon added in his farewell video, reflecting on his career.
“Mine were probably no different to most kids: play for my club and my country. Heart of Midlothian and Scotland.
“Improbable? Perhaps. Impossible? Absolutely not.
“Hard work, sacrifices, setbacks. Step by step, dreams become reality. From supporting Hearts to playing for Hearts. Years of hard work can never fully prepare you. You want to do yourself proud, you want to do your family proud, you want to do the fans proud.
“I’m not much of a singer, but I improved a little after 84 renditions of the national anthem. The biggest names, at the biggest stadiums, on the biggest stages – I’ve savoured every moment of it.
“[I’m] thankful for my team-mates and coaches pushing me all the way. Thankful for my opponents for spurring me on. Thankful for the medical staff who have worked with me throughout the years. Thankful to my loved ones for their support.
“Now the gloves are finally off and I bid farewell to my playing career. You, the fans, have given me everything, and it has been a privilege to represent you.
“I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.”
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