As reported by The Daily Record, Celtic goalkeeper Craig Gordon believes he can play at the club well into his forties after signing a contract the club that sees him stay at Celtic Park until 2020.
What’s the story
There was a time when Gordon’s career looked like it may end prematurely after a series of debilitating injuries when he was at Sunderland. However since joining Celtic in 2014 he’s gone from strength to strength and now believes he’s in a position to play at the top level well into his forties.
Speaking to The Daily Record, the goalkeeper said:
It’s a good length of contract for someone my age but I believe I can still go on and get another one after that. I can play for a few more years beyond the current contract. For how long? I will tell you in five or six years! Buffon has shown you can play for a long time as a keeper. Mark Schwarzer was also playing in the Champions League for Chelsea at 40-41. Brad Friedel and van der Sar both played for a long time. It’s doable. We have good facilities at Celtic that are getting better all the time.
It’s an ambitious statement but not one you’d bet against. At 34 years of age he’s excelling in a Celtic jersey and appears to be improving all the time under the management of Brendan Rodgers.
The Scotland international has made a massive 23 clean sheets this season, firmly establishing himself as the club’s number one despite having to prove himself initially to the incoming Rodgers.
If he can show similar consistency in the seasons to come then he would undoubtedly be worth another contract towards the end of his current three-and-a-half year deal.
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