Soccer Football - Scottish League Cup - Final - Rangers v Celtic - Hampden Park, Glasgow, Scotland, Britain - February 26, 2023 Celtic's Aaron Mooy in action with Rangers' Ryan Kent Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith
Aaron Mooy has announced his retirement from football.
The midfielder joined Celtic last summer on a two year deal, played in the Champions League and World Cup but has been forced to retire at the age of 31 after 42 appearances for Celtic.
After quitting China Mooy returned to his family home in Glasgow in January 2022 and underwent a strenuous fitness regime to get him as close to match fit as possible to help Australia through two World Cup qualifiers.
With that achieved he signed a two year contract with Celtic, after an OK start he came into his own following the World Cup Finals in Qatar.
#CelticFC midfielder & Australian internationalist Aaron Mooy today announced his intention to retire from football with immediate effect.
Aaron played a crucial role in our recent record-breaking Treble & we wish him the best for the future ?
Thank you, @AaronMooy ?
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) June 30, 2023
Through January and February Mooy was in outstanding form with his performance in the Viaplay Cup Final one of the main reasons for Celtic’s victory.
A knock picked up away to Hearts at the start of March put him out of action for a month, when he returned he wasn’t quite his influential self with a 15 minute appearance at Tynecastle in the SPFL clincher his final appearance.
Mooy’s retirement will be a big blow for Australia with his performances in the Play Offs then at the World Cup Finals in Qatar a major factor in Graham Arnold’s success.
I was impressed with Mooy’s performances last season but there may be long-term issues with injury not in the public domain. He’s had a successful enough career that he doesn’t need to risk his future health by playing on when he shouldn’t. Good luck to him.
Every setback is an opportunity in disguise though, and this leaves a berth in the squad and starting XI for someone else, either a player already with us such as Turnbull or a new signing.
I first seen him play in England – I was down for an excellent St. Patrick’s Day parade in The very fine West Yorkshire town of Huddersfield (10,000 in attendance, floats, bands, Irish dancers, music, the lot and NOT ONE copper in sight) – so the day before I took in a match at the very fine stadium and very fine local football club of Huddersfield Town – I think they were in The Premier League at the time, they won and Aaron Mooy ran the show and he was loved down there in “Huddy” –
It’s no coincidence that Celtic took a dip in form after his ‘knock’ at Hearts but he had the last laugh in his final apperence in football as he became a champion at their intimidating wee ground in Edinburgh…
Good Luck Aaron going forward in whatever you do and Thank You for what you did for Celtic in your time at Parkhead !