Darren O’Dea is set to retire from professional football following Dundee's relegation to the Scottish Championship. The well-travelled 33-year-old will hang up his boots at the end of the season
The defender collected 20 caps across four years with the Republic of Ireland team, scoring his only international goal in a 4-1 victory against the Faroe Islands in 2012.
Dubliner O'Dea started his club career at Celtic and went on loan to Reading, Ipswich and Leeds during his six-year spell at Parkhead before going globetrotting in 2012.
He played for Toronto, Metalurth Donetsk and Mumbai before joining Dundee in 2016 where he was club captain.
The Dark Blues fell through to the Scottish Premiership trap-door when they lost to Hamilton Accies at the weekend.
O'Dea says he'll step away from the game at the end of the current campaign.
"I’ve decided to retire from full-time football at the end of the season. It’s been a difficult decision as I feel I have plenty left in the talk but my passion in life is now in another part of football – coaching.
"My path in coaching started four years ago and I’ve become obsesses with it. It’s a career I can’t wait to begin.
"It has been a dream I’ve fulfilled and now I’m onto trying to live my next dream. It has been a pleasure."
— Darren O'Dea (@odea_darren) May 7, 2019
Best of luck in your retirement, Darren - thanks for the memories! 🍀 https://t.co/bJO9zSGAIf pic.twitter.com/CQcntK2dB1
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) May 7, 2019
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