Jonny Hayes thanked every team for allowing him to pursue his dream of becoming a professional player.
Hayes retired from football last season, having played for Aberdeen, Celtic, Inverness Caledonian Thistle, Leicester City, Cheltenham Town, and Reading across nearly two decades.
The 37-year-old has won the League Cup three times: once with Aberdeen in 2014 and twice with Celtic.
He won three Scottish Premiership titles and two Scottish Cups during his stint at Glasgow.
The former Republic of Ireland international has accepted a coaching position at Celtic’s junior club, rejecting the possibility to stay at Aberdeen, where he spent his final four seasons.
The Irishman wrote an emotional post on Instagram to celebrate the end of an era, saying: “It’s hard to believe that over 20 years have passed since I moved from Ireland to begin my career as a professional footballer.”
“The time has now come for me to terminate my playing career, but what a ride it has been. I never anticipated to experience so many highs and lows, yet I wouldn’t change a thing.
“I am grateful to every club that has given me the opportunity to play for them. Even when things didn’t go as planned, I always tried to imagine what fans expected from players who represented them on the pitch, and as a result, I always gave it my all.
“I’ve had the opportunity of being a part of some fantastic changing rooms and learning from managers who taught me how to be a better footballer and a better person.
“I’ve had the incredible opportunity to travel to areas I would never have considered seeing if it weren’t for football. Making lifelong memories with friends who were brought together just because of our shared love of football. I’ll always be grateful for that.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported me over the past two decades. Thank you to my teammates, coaches, colleagues, and fans, as well as those who criticised me, for making this a memorable experience. Without the stars’ support, the game would be meaningless.
“A four-year-old with inflatable goals, whose parents never missed a game, worked extra shifts to get me the latest football boots. They couldn’t have imagined this. I was forever grateful to them for their sacrifices for me. I’d like to believe that my work ethic is the least I took from them.
“Finally, a huge thank you to my strongest supporters, Sarah, Jackson, and Charlotte.
“The emotional rollercoaster that is a football career necessitates much of support. Most of stuff is in the public light, so it’s difficult to imagine where I would be without them. I’m very thankful to have Sarah and her amazing kids by my side, sharing some of my favourite football experiences.
“Thankfully, I have had time over the last few years to prepare for my next chapter in football and coaching is something I am really looking forward to.”
For more updates, visit https://sportupdates.co.uk/
Leave a Reply