At the age of 39, Glenn Whelan played his final club game on Sunday afternoon.
Whelan has spent the last two years with Bristol Rovers, helping them to achieve promotion from League Two last season and consolidate their place in League One this season.
On Sunday, he came on as a late substitute in Rovers' ultimate defeat to Bolton Wanderers, in a game which marked his final appearance at club level.
There was plenty of love for the former Irish international on social media from former clubs and fans of those clubs, as a great servant of Irish football stepped into retirement.
Glenn Whelan: Irish midfielder retires at 39
After a 20-year senior career which included spells at Sheffield Wednesday, Stoke City, Aston Villa, and Hearts, Glenn Whelan finally played his final club game for Bristol Rovers this weekend.
His performances this season have helped Rovers to cement their place in League One, and the club posted a touching photo of the Dubliner on their Twitter page on Sunday evening.
👋 Thanks, Whelo. #BristolRovers pic.twitter.com/UNUEnD6eXy
— Bristol Rovers (@Official_BRFC) May 7, 2023
Bristol Rovers' post drew a reply from a former teammate of Glenn Whelan's at Aston Villa - one Jack Grealish, who was coming up through the ranks at Villa Park during Whelan's two-year spell there.
Grealish wished his "brother" a happy retirement and paid tribute to his career.
What a career & what a guy. Congrats Whelo 💙💙 Happy retirement brother 💙 https://t.co/iv5S3dJULR
— Jack Grealish (@JackGrealish) May 8, 2023
Whelan's wife Karen also shared a post to Twitter which confirmed Glenn's retirement.
Karen Whelan shared a video of her husband leaving the field on Sunday afternoon, as he was subbed off in injury time to a resounding round of applause from the home fans.
Her caption read "That's a wrap the boots are hung up" - confirming Whelan's retirement from the professional game.
And that’s a wrap the boots are hung up ⚽️🙌🏼❤️ we are very proud of everything you have achieved on to the next chapter ❤️#bristolrovers #thankyou pic.twitter.com/tfYBp0W5iD
— Karen Whelan (@karen3403) May 7, 2023
Her tweet brought plenty of replies from fans of Whelan's previous clubs, thanking him for his service and paying tribute to him as he retired from the pro game.
Fans of Stoke City, in particular, popped up to wish Whelan the best in retirement.
Get him straight onto the Stoke first team coaching team! Absolute legend Wheloooo!
— Dan Huntley (@danhunt82) May 7, 2023
Congratulations on a fantastic career Whelo and thanks for all the graft you did for Villa. Great player!! 👏👏👏
— Maindog (@Maindog) May 7, 2023
Fantastic! congratulations Glen, what a great example to young players thanks for everything, always a Stokie!!!!!!!Whelan!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!❤️
— Keith Thompson (@keith35456257) May 7, 2023
What an absolute legend! My fav player at Stoke in those brilliant premiership days! Thank you Glen an all the best in the future!
— gary ratcliffe (@ratter62) May 7, 2023
As an Irish Stokie he was and always will be a hero.Thank you.
— cormac o d (@ruagarai) May 7, 2023
Always a Stokie. Excellent player who smelled danger and dealt with it. His sheer will to win was brilliant and such an influence on others. 6 years on he hasn't been replaced permanently yet. What an excellent career.
— johnsharrock7 (@johnsharrock71) May 7, 2023
Whelan is best remembered by Irish fans for his service with the national team, making 91 appearances at senior level - placing him in the top ten of Ireland's most-capped players.
He played at two international tournaments with Ireland, lining out at both EURO 2012 and EURO 2016, and was a particularly important cog in midfield during the Giovanni Trapattoni era.
13 June 2016; Wes Hoolahan, right, and team-mate Glenn Whelan of Republic of Ireland celebrate after he scored his side's first goal during the UEFA Euro 2016 Group E match between Republic of Ireland and Sweden at Stade de France in Saint Denis, Paris, France. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
We wish Glenn Whelan a very happy retirement.
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