He made his Scotland debut in 2004 and went on to earn 84 senior caps. Across his career, Gordon played 766 first-team matches, including a 13-game loan spell with Cowdenbeath in the 2001–02 season.
His last international appearance came in May, in Scotland’s pre-World Cup win over Curaçao, while his final outing for Hearts was a 2-2 draw against former club Celtic in January.
The Scotland national team’s social media hailed him as “a career unlike any other.”
Gordon said that, like many, his dreams were simple: to represent his club and his country—Heart of Midlothian and Scotland.
It might have seemed unlikely, he noted, but never impossible.
He spoke of hard work, sacrifices, and setbacks, and how step by step those dreams became reality. From supporting Hearts to wearing the shirt, he aimed to make himself, his family, and the fans proud.
Joking that he’s no great singer, he added that 84 national anthems offered some practice. He relished taking on the biggest names, in the biggest stadiums, on the biggest stages, and savoured every moment.