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Football

17th Oct 2024

Aiden McGeady announces his retirement from football

Ryan Price

The former Celtic winger is calling quits on his career at the age of 38.

Republic of Ireland and Celtic legend Aiden McGeady has announced his retirement from football after 20 years of playing at professional level.

The South Lanarkshire native started his career at Celtic where he won four league titles, two Scottish Cups, and one Scottish League Cup across six years before making a surprise move to Russian club Spartak Moscow in 2010.

GLASGOW, UNITED KINGDOM – JANUARY 02: Aiden McGeady of Celtic celebrates after scoring during the Scottish Premier League match between Celtic and Kilmarnock at Celtic Park January 2, 2007 in Glasgow, Scotland. (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

His time in Russia was followed by spells in the English Premier League and Championship, where he featured for the likes of Everton, Sunderland, and Charlton Athletic. He also had a return to Scottish football with Hibernian before his final chapter at Ayr United.

Despite being born in Scotland, McGeady opted to declare for the Republic of Ireland national team – qualifying by way of his Irish grandparents.

Making his international debut in July, 2004, he went on to make over 90 appearances for Ireland and scored his first goal for the Boys in Green at the Aviva Stadium against Macedonia in a Euro 2012 qualifier.

A two-footed player with bags of speed and creativity on the wing, McGeady was perhaps best known for his signature piece of skill known as the ‘McGeady spin’.