Craig Gordon: Hearts, Celtic, Sunderland and Scotland goalkeeping great announces retirement

Goalkeeper Craig Gordon has announced his retirement from football, ending a 25-year playing career.

Gordon, 43, completed his second spell at first club Heart of Midlothian this summer and was part of Scotland’s World Cup squad.

He first left Tynecastle for Sunderland in 2007, with the Black Cats paying a then British record fee of £9m for a goalkeeper. Gordon made one of the most famous saves in Premier League history in 2010 when he denied Bolton Wanderers’ Jatt Knight from close range.

However, a serious knee injury affected his time at the Stadium of Light and at the end of his five-year spell, he took a two-year spell out of playing rehabilitation and coaching.

Gordon joined Celtic in 2014 and won his first league title, adding four more during a six-year medal-filled spell before returning to Hearts. A double leg break in 2022 resulted in another lay-off but the veteran keeper recovered to return to action.