Craig Gordon recently re-signed for Hearts on a two-year contract after rejecting an offer from Celtic to stay on at Parkhead for another season (as per BBC Sport).
The 37-year-old was limited to just six appearances for Neil Lennon’s side this season, none of which came in the Scottish Premiership (as per Transfermarkt.co.uk). He played a total of 570 minutes, but for somebody with aspirations of breaking into Steve Clarke’s international squad, you can understand why playing time will likely have been more important to him than the finances on offer.
Football writer Alison McConnell confirmed that to be the case during a recent edition of the PLZ Soccer show. She said: “I was led to believe that Celtic’s offer financially was better than the offer that Hearts put forward so I think it really is all about, at this stage of his career, being guaranteed first-team football. I think he still believes that he can go on and play again for Scotland – there is a tournament coming up, or the potential of a tournament next summer and I think his aim will be to get back into Steve Clarke’s squad and you’re only going to do that by playing regularly.”
Would you have liked to have seen Craig Gordon stay one more season?
No
Yes
TIF Thoughts…
Despite his age, Gordon is clearly still highly motivated to play for his country and his decision to join Hearts not only affords him the opportunity to play regularly but it means the Edinburgh-based side are bringing in a wealth of top-level experience in somebody who has already represented the club on 100 occasions.
The veteran goalkeeper will in our view, go down as a Celtic hero regardless of his decision to leave the club, having helped them to five Scottish Premiership titles, five Scottish League Cups and three Scottish Cups (as per Transfermarkt.co.uk).