Mick McCarthy and Seamus Coleman led the tributes this evening to Jon Walters who has announced his retirement from football.
The striker was a stalwart of the Ireland team for the last nine years and the talisman during the Euro 2016 qualifying campaign.
But he has been dogged by an Achilles injury and felt compelled to call time on his playing career today after 54 caps for Ireland and 14 goals.
Walter wrote on social media: "Isn’t it ironic...my Achilles heel has literally been my Achilles heel and finished me off! I am now retired from playing football. It’s been epic.”
Ireland captain Coleman - who is a confirmed starter against Gibraltar tomorrow - soldiered alongside Walters.
And at Victoria Stadium today, he said: “He came into the team hotel (in Dublin) yesterday and let a few of us know.
Former Ireland star Jon Walters retires from football
“As long as he’s been with us he’s been nothing short of an example. He was an inspiration and will be massively missed.
“He set standards and while he carried an injury into the Euro 2016 finals and it didn’t go as well as he would have liked, he carried us there.”
Ireland boss McCarthy never got to work with the veteran striker but said today: “It’s sad to see him go but it happens to all of us, the best of players.
“He was an inspirational player for Ireland and it's sad when you lose those players. And the fact it’s an injury too and not a case of just packing it in because he can’t compete.
“He messaged me last week about coming in to see us at training so I phoned him back and he told me what he was doing.
“It’s sad. I never had the chance to work with him but he’s someone I’ve always admired. It’s sad we’re losing him but it’s natural and it comes to us all.”
Meanwhile, McCarthy has hinted that Robbie Brady’s lack of minutes with Burnley of late could mean he misses out on the starting team tomorrow evening.
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