FORMER REPUBLIC OF Ireland international Aiden McGeady has retired from professional football at the age of 38.
McGeady announced his decision today, having left his dual playing/technical director role at second-tier Scottish side Ayr United. McGeady did not make a playing appearance for Ayr this season, who are coached by McGeady’s old Celtic team-mate, Scott Brown.
McGeady made 92 appearances for Ireland, making his debut under Brian Kerr against Jamaica. He scored five goals for Ireland, two of which were crucial in beating Georgia to ensure Ireland started their Euro 2016 qualifying campaign with a victory. His final Irish appearance came in the 5-1 loss to Denmark in the second leg of the 2018 World Cup play-off under Martin O’Neill.
O’Neill also gave McGeady his senior debut at Celtic, for whom he made more than 250 appearances and won four league titles. He left Celtic for Spartak Moscow in 2010, playing 93 times across 14 seasons. He returned to Britain by joining Everton in 2013 and later dropped down to Sunderland, initially in the Championship and then in League One.
He went back to Scotland in 2022, joining Hibs for a season before moving to Ayr United, the final club of his career.
“Twenty years after making my debut at Celtic, I’m officially calling it a day”, said McGeady. “I’ve been fortunate enough to live my dream as a footballer, competing in the Champions League, European Championships, and the Premier League. I’m deeply grateful to everyone I’ve had the privilege of playing alongside and meeting throughout this journey. Excited to see what the next chapter brings,” he said in a social media post.
“I have been lucky enough to play for so many great teams in Scotland, England and Russia, brilliant memories, at the best clubs. I will never forget the magical times representing Ireland for 13 years and getting to the Euros in the process.”
That ref is a bit whistle happy. Being particularly harsh on KK I’d think.
@Jason Pierce: he is a joke the cork keeper should get a oscar for acting
@Tom Dowling: yellow was for throwing the hurl…
@IrishOwl: she threw the defenders hurl away. Not at someone. How is that foul play? I haven’t read the rule book so I’m open for correction.
@Jason Pierce: ref loves Cork, thats why
@Jason Pierce: apparently its there somewhere i believe. Sportsmanship and all that….
@Oisin Curry: oh that must be it… my bad ? Ffs
@IrishOwl: why was the goalie acting then the usual cork stuff
@IrishOwl: and penalty what was that for?
@Jamie Walsh: and about three or four other frees, he gave one for charging that was a joke
@IrishOwl: nothing about yellow for throwing a hurl away
@Tom Dowling: usual stuff like winning another All Ireland ? Ffs pipe down
@Anthony Davoren: thats that settled then. Anyway… who cares.. Cork won !
@IrishOwl: brilliant analysis, who cares? Handed an all Ireland ffs
@Jamie Walsh: handed an All Ireland ? Lol. Sure all Kilkennys wides had no bearing on the result.. go back to bed. The hatred for Cork is strong today.
@IrishOwl: I’m wide awake and hate to point the obvious but the amount of wides registered by a team has no bearing on scoreboard?! , but if one team scores when handed penalties and frees that have no place in a competitive match let alone an AI final well that might I’m thinking
Ref is woeful
Ref should be ashamed of himself
That ref should be ashamed of himself.
What women if only cork men hurlers had the same bottle
Up the Rebels. Well done!
A complete joke of a referee kilkenny were totally robbed, working hard all year to reach AI then cheated by an imbecile
Denise Gaule might just pip it. Sorry I mean Kilkenny of course
Heap of shite. *anny hurling
@Paulie T: anny hurling?