Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was told the treatment needed for a serious neck injury carried life-threatening risks just three months before he was named in the national squad for the World Cup.
Now 43, Gordon is aiming to make history by appearing at the tournament and becoming one of the oldest players ever to feature on football’s biggest stage.
If he takes the field against Haiti, Morocco or Brazil, Gordon would move to second on the all-time list of oldest World Cup players. Only Egypt’s Essam El Hadary, who played at 45 in 2018, would rank above him.
The stark warning is revealed in the latest episode of BBC Scotland’s Icons of Football, which focuses on Gordon’s career and the challenge he faced in trying to keep his World Cup hopes alive.
Craig Gordon underwent risky surgery on a neck injury earlier this year
In the programme, spine specialist Usamah Jannoun speaks candidly about the dangers attached to the procedure, telling Gordon: “You’ve read the information leaflet. You could get paralysis, you could die…”
Reflecting on the injury, Gordon says he feared the issue could have consequences far beyond football. “There was definitely a worry it was something that was going to be longer term, not only in football, but also for the rest of my life,” he says.
On the choice he faced, he adds; “Continuing (trying to play) or whether I need to look at the rest of my life and think, ‘No, I need to be in a good enough state to play with the kids, to make sure they’re getting brought up with a dad that can play with them and be active and do the things that they want to do’.”
Gordon successfully underwent the treatment and although he didn’t play again for Hearts last season, his displays in bounce games and training saw him make Steve Clarke’s 26-man squad – making him the oldest player in the tournament.
His hopes of now writing his name into the record books by making an appearance hinge of him being selected ahead of Angus Gunn and Liam Kelly for one of the Group C games.
Asked if he still considered himself to be the best option after 84 caps, he said: “I think everybody has to think like that. I would like to think the other guys in the squad think the same thing.
‘That doesn’t mean to say that if the other guys play you don’t support them, because absolutely we do. This is a country effort, this is everybody together.
“But you have to have that mindset to prepare properly, as if you are going to play and you are going to be the number one. That is no different regardless.”
Gordon split the Curacao farewell game at Hampden with Kelly with Gunn getting 90 minutes in the win over Bolivia in New Jersey.
Adamant that there’s not yet been any word on who starts against the section outsiders in Boston this weekend, Gordon said: “There’s been no indication whatsoever.
‘That’s nothing new. We’ve got a few days left of training to try and impress and show that we’re the one to take that position. That goes for all of us and I’m no different.
‘I’ll train as well as I possibly can over the next few days and see who the manager picks.’
Throughout his career with Hearts, Sunderland and Celtic, Gordon has won 13 major honours and overcome serious injury to keep playing well into his 40s.
He feels, however, that an appearance at this summer’s finals would be the pinnacle of his career.
‘I think that’s what every young kid wants – to play at a World Cup,’ he said. ‘It’s the biggest tournament you can be involved in. As a youngster that’s something I probably always dreamed of doing. To be able to say I’ve done that would definitely be something you’d carry with you for the rest of your life.’
Gordon played for Scotland when qualification was clinched against Denmark only to suffer an injury which kept him out of action for his club since January.
‘It’s been a tough year,’ he reflected. ‘There’s been a lot to contend with.
‘I’ve made a few comebacks in my career and this was another one I wanted to make.
Craig Gordon is hoping to get the nod to start Scotland’s World Cup opener against Haiti
‘I wanted to do everything I could to make it here, especially after the night against Denmark and the feelings everyone had.
‘To be part of this squad again was a huge driving factor to get myself the opportunity to be part of the squad.’
Gordon was a spectator as his side were pipped by Celtic for the title on the final day, a savage blow which the lifelong Hearts supporter believes he’ll always struggle to process.
‘I don’t think you ever will (get over it),’ he added.
‘It’s time to look to the World Cup now and those things will remain in the past. There’s nothing anyone can do about it.’
Out of contract at Tynecastle, he seems certain to leave the club after six years.
Although he is clearly nearing the end of his playing days, Gordon says he hasn’t yet decided if he’ll retire after the World Cup.
‘There will come that moment, whether that’s now or whether that’s next year,’ he said.
‘We will cross that bridge when we come to it.’
