WALTERS LEAVES AS A LEGEND

MICK MCCARTHY and Seamus Coleman led the tributes to Jon Walters last night after he 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 yesterday evening, he said: “He came into the team hotel (in Dublin) yesterday and let a few of us know.

“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.”

Ireland boss Mccarthy never got to work with the veteran striker but said yesterday: “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.”