The man who scored the goal to set the Republic of Ireland on the road to qualification for their first major tournament in ten years has been forced to retire early.
Former international Keith Fahey's shock decision to hang up his boots was announced through current club Shamrock Rovers with whom the Dubliner made 12 league appearances.
The 32-year-old was suffering with knee and hip injuries picked up in May and underwent surgery but is 'unable to return from the operation to resume his playing career.'
Fahey has expressed his gratitude to the fans, his former team mates and managers.
“Unfortunately I have had to come to this decision after taking advice from the doctor and surgeon, I feel that it is the right time to finish playing professional football.
"I’d like to thank everyone that has supported me, managed me and played with me during my time playing football.”
Hoops boss Pat Fenlon wished Fahey the best and expressed his own regret in losing the midfielder from his squad.
“Keith will be a big loss to Shamrock Rovers and the League of Ireland in general. He has been a central part of our squad this season and has been a great influence on the players, particularly the younger members of our squad.”
Fahey won 16 international caps and scored 3 goals for the Boys in Green under Giovanni Trapattoni with his finest moment coming in Yerevan where he scored a crucial winner (title pic & above) in the first Euro 2012 qualifier against Armenia.
The Tallaght native had spells in England at the beginning of his career with Arsenal and Aston Villa before coming back to play the first of three spells with St Patrick's Athletic with whom he played 178 league matches.
He won the Setanta Sports Cup with Drogheda United in 2006 and after his second spell with the Saints, including some superb performances in the 2008 season, moved back to England to play with Birmingham City.
Fahey made a total of 121 appearances with Brummie over four years, helping get them promoted to the Premier League in 2009 and kept them there with a crucial goal on the final day of the season.
He won some silverware with Birmingham, a famous League Cup win against Arsenal in the 2011 final at Wembley and it wasn't to be his last major cup success.
After returning to Inchicore for one more spell with the Saints, Fahey helped the club make history last November by winning their first FAI Cup since 1961.
Fahey was light in stature but that was irrelevant due to his pure footballing intelligence and wonderful passing ability which marked him out as top class player that served his country well and who will be sorely missed.
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