Craig Gordon has had a superb career.

The goalkeeper is now 37 and is perhaps one of the single most decorated players in the Scottish top-flight.

Starting his career at Hearts in 2001, he became Scotland’s first-choice goalkeeper, winning 54 caps, and even became the most expensive goalkeeper in Britain in 2007, when he moved to Sunderland.

At the time, he cost a fee of £9 million and after five years at the Stadium of Light, he made a move to Celtic.

In his time at the club, he won five Scottish Premiership titles, five Scottish League Cups and two Scottish Cups.

But after announcing that he will be leaving Celtic on Instagram, he has signed for Hearts. 

Per BBC Sport, he was offered a new contract at the Bhoys on vastly reduced terms, but decided instead to return to his former club. 

He has signed a two-year contract. 

Announcing his departure from Celtic, he wrote: "The last six years have been the most successful period of my professional career, and I would like to thank everyone who has played their part in making this possible.

"The club, for initially taking a chance on someone who hadn't played in nearly three years. And to Woodsy for encouraging me to make the move in the first place, and for training me ridiculously hard ever since.

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"I've had the pleasure of playing alongside some brilliant team-mates - who without, my time at the club would have been very different.

"The fans, for their support. Home, away… all over the world. Thank you. My family, who have been there through it all. The ups and downs, the miles, the sacrifices, the celebrations. I hope I've made them proud.

"At 37, and with a few years in me yet, I just want to play the game I love, and have played for 20+ professional seasons. Football can make for difficult decisions, but I'm looking forward to the next chapter and challenge. Thank you, again."

GIVEMESPORT’S Harry Sherlock says…

One cannot begrudge Gordon this.

He has not played at all in the 2019/20 season, finding himself playing second fiddle to Fraser Forster.

He made 18 appearances in 2018/19 and in recent seasons his playing time has only dwindled.

His last appearance for the club came in December 2018’s Old Firm derby, when Celtic lost 1-0 at Ibrox.

A return to Hearts, where he has been welcomed back with open arms, makes all the sense in the world at this point, then. 

Like he says, he simply wants to play.

At Hearts, that might actually happen.