Craig Gordon – a decent Celtic keeper who tarnished his legacy among our supporters | OneFootball

Craig Gordon was a decent enough Celtic goalkeeper, but one who tarnished his legacy among our supporters…

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon shakes hands with Ivo Pinto of Dinamo Zagreb at the end of the UEFA Europa League group D match between Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb at Celtic Park on October 02, 2014. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Former Celtic and Scotland keeper Craig Gordon this week announced his retirement from football at the age of 43.

Craig, who was part of the Scotland squad for the recent World Cup, enjoyed a hugely successful six year spell at the club between 2014 and 2020, winning a stack of honours including playing his part in the iconic Invincible Treble winning side of 2016/17 under the guidance of elite manager Brendan Rodgers.

His long career is even more remarkable considering injury almost put paid to an impressive career that seen him rise to prominence by becoming the undisputed Scotland number one, as well as winning the Scottish cup with Hearts in 2006, and earning a £9 million move to EPL side Sunderland.

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon makes a key save during the UEFA Europa League group D match between Celtic and Dinamo Zagreb at Celtic Park on October 02, 2014. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)

Signed by Ronny Delia after a short training stint at the club, he set about quickly rebuilding his career, which was in major doubt due to a serious of knee injuries. Although, like all newly acquired players, he had his share of doubters among the supporters.

But Craig showed that he possessed great mental ability, as well as his footballing ability, and he wasted no time in making the Celtic goalkeeping position his own. Taking his opportunity after undisputed number one Fraser Forster landed a bumper £14 million move to Southampton, and Craig slowly won over the doubters in the Celtic support.

The six years he spent at the club, were the most successful of his career, winning 12 major honours, in an era of unprecedented success for the Hoops, whilst getting to sample the delights of Champions League football.

Craig earned the respect of the Celtic supporters, and was very much seen as a regular fixture in a successful Celtic side, even seeing off competition from Dutchman Dorus De Vries who was brought to the club with high expectations of being number one, due to his distribution skills, something that wasn’t in Craig’s locker.

Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon celebrates his teams third goal during the Scottish Premiership League Match between Celtic and Dundee United, at Celtic Park on August 16, 2014. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

But Craig easily saw off competition from the hapless Dutchman, and spent another few years between the sticks for the club, as he added to his already impressive reputation.

Craig would eventually leave in the summer of 2020, rejoining first love Hearts, and that’s when his relationship with the Celtic supporters began to deteriorate.

After being beaten by an Odsonne Edouard Panenka in the 2020 Scottish Cup final, Craig took umbrage and angrily threw the ball at his former teammate, and later accused him of being ‘disrespectful’. No, it’s the penalty takers job to put the ball in the net and the keeper’s to try to prevent that happening.  French Eddie did his job his way and that is nothing to do with Craig Gordon or anyone else.

Then there was of course his words just a short few months ago, when he disrespected his former employers by jumping on the ‘we were cheated’ bandwagon, further testing his already shaky relationship with the Celtic supporters.

Craig Gordon contributed to our success, but he’s somewhat sullied his legacy with Celtic supporters, due to his regular bitter snipes at the club who helped rebuild his career, and helped him enjoy the most successful period of his career.

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