Goalkeeper Craig Gordon hangs up his gloves aged 43

Hearts and Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon has announced his retirement from football at the age of 43.

Gordon has called time on a 24-year professional career which brought 84 international caps, six league titles, four Scottish Cups – the first of them with his hometown club – five Scottish League Cups and European football.

His career was punctuated by a series of injuries, but the resilience of a man who emerged from the Hearts academy as a youngster and had spells at Sunderland and Celtic before returning to Tynecastle in 2020, was as impressive as his undoubted quality.

A post shared by Craig Gordon (@craig_gordon1)

Gordon said in a video on his Instagram account: “Everyone has dreams. Mine were probably no different to most kids’, to 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.

“There’s nothing better than walking out here at Tynecastle, hearing Gorgie Roar and celebrating a victory.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to enjoy many of them. Some brought Edinburgh bragging rights, some brought trophies, some brought European memories, all of them special because I got to share them with the fans.

“I’m not much of a singer, but I’ve 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’ve never wanted it to end, but end it must. I have lived my dreams and for that, I am so thankful,