Celtic and Sunderland may share same reaction to player news: View | OneFootball

The former Republic of Ireland winger announced his retirement from professional football on Thursday at the age of 38.

The late 2010s and early 2020s were a difficult time for Sunderland supporters as the club went from a consistent Premier League side to League One in the space of just two years.

While the Black Cats are now back on the up and chasing that promotion dream once again in the Championship, those players that helped to stop the rut and get the team back on an upward curve will be looked at as heroes if Regis Le Bris takes the side back to the top flight in the near future.

One of those to have been a regular throughout the days in the third tier, Aiden McGeady, announced his retirement from football on Thursday, 20 years and 609 appearances after making his debut for Scottish giants Celtic.

While it perhaps took longer than Sunderland had originally hoped to take them out of League One, the 38-year-old was extremely impressive during his time at the Stadium of Light, and supporters of both the Black Cats and the Bhoys will be sharing similar feelings following the announcement.

McGeady could create moments out magic of nothing

The former Republic of Ireland star joined Sunderland in July 2017 for a mere £250,000 following the team's relegation from the Premier League, and while he could do little to stop the club from dropping into the third tier at the end of the season, it was in League One where he shone.

A quick, skillful winger throughout his career, not many players at the level could control the ball as effortlessly as McGeady, and at times he made the game look easy.

In 150 appearances for the club, he scored 36 goals and registered 35 assists, even playing when injured by using injections to help ease the pain. The 38-year-old was Mr Sunderland during his time at the club and was often able to drag the team from losing positions to three points by himself.

In just 29 games during the 2020/21 campaign, McGeady set up his teammates to score 14 times, with four of those coming in the same game against Doncaster Rovers.

It was a part of his game enjoyed by his other clubs, including Celtic, with the winger picking up 17 assists during the 2007/08 season in the Scottish Premiership, helping the team to the league title over rivals Rangers.

The creativity that McGeady possessed is not often seen in a player, and he is still fondly remembered by both clubs after leaving them.

Injuries proved to be McGeady's downfall

After leaving Sunderland in 2022 following their promotion back to the Championship, McGeady struggled with his fitness, playing just nine league games for Hibernian in the 2022/23 season, joining Ayr United in the Scottish Championship last summer.

But, once again, it proved to be a tough move for the 92-time capped Republic of Ireland international who played only 16 times for the club before announcing his retirement.

A struggle to remain injury-free forced him into the decision, just two weeks after leaving Ayr, having not appeared for the team this season.

Nevertheless, McGeady will always remain a hero of those at both Celtic Park and the Stadium of Light, and is sure to be renowned as a player that the 'streets will never forget' thanks to a skill move coined the 'McGeady Spin' and his effortless talent.