Craig Gordon, hailing from Scotland and born on the last day of 1982, is currently the guardian of goal for Hearts, standing tall and imposing at 6ft 3in (1.93m) and tipping the scales at a sturdy 13st (83kg). He can often be spotted donning the number 1 jersey both for his club and for his country, where he has diligently served Scotland's national team through the years.
According to Transfermarkt, his current market value hovers around a modest €50k (around £42.5k). He is bound by contract to Hearts till the May of 2026, with just under a year left on his current deal.
Gordon's journey to professional football began as a trainee with Hearts in 1999. Early on in his career, Gordon was loaned out to Cowdenbeath in the Lowland League for the 2001 - 2002 season, where he made 12 appearances. This stint was followed by his return to Hearts in the summer of 2002.
Gordon's time at Hearts was marked by consistent performances between the sticks. From the 2002 - 2003 season onwards, Gordon became a regular fixture in the Hearts line-up, often featuring in over thirty matches each season. His impressive run at Hearts eventually led to a high-profile transfer in 2007 to Sunderland in the Premier League, with the English club parting with around £9m to secure his services.
However, his time with the Black Cats was plagued with unfortunate injuries, markedly affecting his appearances. In the five seasons he spent at Sunderland from 2007 to 2012, Gordon only managed to make 88 league appearances. In May 2012, Gordon found himself without a club.
It wasn't until July 2014 when Gordon found a new home at Celtic. His tenure at Parkhead was marked with regular first-team appearances, proving crucial in the Hoops' domestic dominance during the period. In his first four seasons from 2014 to 2018, Gordon made well over 100 league appearances. The following season saw Gordon's appearances for Celtic dwindle, prompting a move back to his old stomping ground, Hearts, in July 2020.
Much like his initial stint, Gordon seems to have found stability and a consistent run of games back at Hearts in the Scottish Premiership. Should he stay fit, Gordon is set to continue as Hearts' first-choice keeper for the 2025 - 2026 season.
Over his distinguished career, Gordon has also featured prominently in various cup competitions for club and country, such as the Scottish Cup 2024 - 2025 season and the Nations League 2024 - 2025.
