THE ODD DON OUT
Stalwart Andy says farewell and namechecks EVERY boss he worked with at Pittodrie.. except Goodwin
The former Scotland defender made his final appearance in the weekend draw with St Mirren to bring down the curtain on his 19 years with the Dons.
Considine’s relationship with the current manager has been somewhat strained since he was told he would not be getting his contract renewed back in April.
Considine, writing on Instagram, said: “To all the managers and staff I have worked under – forever grateful to Steve Paterson for my debut.
“Jimmy Calderwood for the trust he had in me to play so many games as a young lad and my first taste of European football – that season getting to the last 32 was so special.
“Mark McGhee and his staff for the time he was manager, to have been coached by a Gothenburg legend was a huge honour.
“Craig Brown and Archie Knox, two gentlemen who I hold in very high regard for all they have done in their managerial careers and the only manager to make me club captain for six months.
“Derek (McInnes) and Tony (Docherty) brought the best out of me as a player, we made so many finals and great European victories.
“During those eight years we had so many strong teams and finished the majority of seasons within the top four.
“Stephen Glass and Allan Russell, even though it was only seven games for me, I learned so much from you both. Huge thank you to all.”
The Dons had offered Considine a deal on reduced terms and when his camp went back with a counter-offer, the club decided to walk away.
Aberdeen then put out an angry statement in Goodwin’s name after Record Sport had broken the story that Considine’s Aberdeen career was over.
It went into some of the specifics of the negotiations but left out a key factor, mainly how much they had asked the player to take a cut by.
That was at a time when Considine was just coming back from a serious knee injury he suffered in the Europa Conference League clash away to Qarabag.
Considine made just one cameo appearance as a late sub under former Alloa boss Goodwin before he got a start and was given the armband for his final game against the Buddies. It was ironic as the Dons, who finished a dismal 10th, have hardly kept a clean sheet this season and their most experienced player was left on the sidelines for the majority of the run-in. Considine, however, has refused to let the end sour his Aberdeen love affair. The 34-year-old added: “Twenty five years at Aberdeen came to a close yesterday (Sunday). Being in the academy from 11 years old, the rest is history. “I have had the most amazing 19 years as a professional at the club, through all the highs and lows there have been so many special memories. “Their love and support I am forever grateful for and means the world. “Without them I wouldn’t have had such a successful and consistent career over the past 10 years.
“I have graced the pitch and shared the dressing room with so many great players and I thank each and every one of them for the laughs and sharing the pain of defeats, it always brings a strong squad together.
“Also for passing on their knowledge and experience which has helped me as a player and a person.
“The dressing room is a special place and I’ll miss it at the training ground and at Pittodrie.
“The fans who have supported me from the moment I stepped foot on the pitch back in 2004, from the bottom of my heart – thank you.
“Your turnout week in, week out to support Aberdeen and travel in your numbers to all the away games.
“The best fans in the world. Thank you.”