Aberdeen captain Paul Hartley will retire from the game at the end of the current season.
The 34-year old Hamilton-born midfielder has announced that he will draw the curtain on a professional career, which kicked off with hometown club Hamilton Academical back in 1994, because his body simply isn't up to it anymore.
Hartley has missed the past two months with a knee injury and despite having a year left on his contract, has decided that enough's enough.
"I feel the time is right to stop being a footballer," Hartley told the Daily Record. "My body just doesn't have the energy or power as it used to.
"I didn't want to reach a stage where I might embarrass myself on the pitch.
"I've too much professional pride. It would also have been unfair on my team-mates and Aberdeen supporters."
During his extensive career, Hartley has played for Millwall, Raith Rovers, Hibernian, Greenock Morton (loan), St Johnstone, Heart of Midlothian, Celtic and Bristol City. He represented the Scotland national team on 25 occasions and won two Scottish Premier League titles (with Celtic in 2007 and 2008) and two Scottish Cups (one with Hearts in 2006, the other with Celtic in 2007).
