Cork City’s Dan Murray retires from League of Ireland football

Dan Murray has retired from SSE Airtricity League of Ireland football, due to work and family commitments.

Over the course of his two spells with the club, he captained Cork City to the Premier Division title (2005), the FAI Cup (2007) and the Setanta Sports Cup (2008),

The 33-year-old is also the club’s top scorer in European competition.

CONFIRMED: Dan Murray retires, having captained City to League, FAI & Setanta Cup https://t.co/Bk2e48tWjw #CCFC84 pic.twitter.com/knyzhvvHz9

— Cork City FC (@CorkCityFC) December 10, 2015

City boss John Caulfield paid tribute to Murray, saying: “Unfortunately, Dan has decided to take a step back.

“Last year proved difficult for him from a training point of view because he has a young family and a full-time job, and his work doesn’t allow him to train as often as he would like.

“As much as we were trying to work around it for next year, Dan has acknowledged that it would be almost impossible for him to train to the levels we are at and he has decided to step back.”

The Cork boss wished the stalwart defender all the best for the future.

“I would like to wish him all the best because, in the two years I have been here, he was phenomenal for me. When I came in, he’d had a difficult season the season before, but he has been involved in every game.

“It’s with a heavy heart that we confirm he is leaving, because I was hoping that he might be able to stay on, but things have changed and he just can’t give the commitment that we are looking for going forward.

“On behalf of everyone at the club, I would like to wish him the very best of luck in the future and congratulate him for being such a fantastic player for this club.”

Tribute has been paid to the defender from Airtricity League fans around the country.

Used to love seeing Dan Murray's name on the Cork team sheet when we played them, he will be missed.

— Thomas Kilfeather (@TomKilfeather) December 10, 2015

Dan Murray is retiring. Classy centre-back, hugely committed and a top fella to boot. https://t.co/qbpKaq1wTb pic.twitter.com/JV4nRzL5nt

— Éamonn Murphy (@EamonnMurphy19) December 10, 2015

Sad news that @corkcityfc stalwart Dan Murray is to retire. He's been an icon for the club and was v good last season. Only 1 CB left?

— Brian Hayes Curtin (@BHayesCurtin) December 10, 2015

@CorkCityFC all the best skipper was our leader at Rovers ..#legend

— PatrickTutty1 (@PatrickTutty1) December 10, 2015