Cork City's League and FAI Cup winner Gearóid Morrissey has revealed he has to quit the SSE Airtricity League at 30 "from a security and financial standpoint".
And the Leesiders are also losing Steven Beattie, another experienced star of the John Caulfield era who helped the club become rivals to Dundalk.
"It breaks my heart to be walking away from professional football when I still feel I've a lot more to give, but such is life and it's an extremely tough decision I've had to make from a security and financial standpoint," he said.
"I'll be involved in some capacity in the new year but for now it's goodbye."
Morrissey, who made over 300 appearances for his hometown club over two spells - he moved to Barnsley in 2017 before returning - won one Premier Division title, a First Division title, two FAI Cups, three President's Cups and three Munster Senior Cups.
Dubliner Beattie re-joined the club this year after spending two years in the US and made over 100 appearances in total for Cork, winning the Premier Division, two FAI Cups, three President’s Cups and two Munster Senior Cups in that time.
Commenting on his departure from the club, Beattie said: “I have loved being back at Cork City.
"It was great to get another opportunity to play at Turner’s Cross in front of the City fans again.
"I think everybody knows how much I have loved playing for this club, so to get the chance to do it again was fantastic.
"Hopefully, Colin and the players and staff can kick on now next season and get this club back up to where we all want it to be, and I wish them all the very best of luck in doing so.”
City boss Colin Healy paid tribute to both players.
“Having played alongside Gearóid myself, he was an absolutely magnificent player for the club," said Healy.
"A great person off the pitch, a real character in the dressing room and he will be missed by a lot of people within the club.
"He played a lot of games with the club and stuck with the club even when things were not going well, and we will always appreciate that.
"We all thank Gearóid for everything he has done for the club and wish him the very best for his future.
“Beats has always been a very popular player at the club since he first came here in 2015.
"He was hugely successful in his first spell with the club, and then he came back to us at the start of the year and added experience to the group which we needed at the time.
"As a person, everyone has huge respect for Beats with the career he has had and the presence he has around the club, and we all greatly appreciate what he has done for the club over the years.
"He leaves on very good terms with everyone at the club and we wish him the very best of luck going forward.”
