Coleraine boss Oran Kearney has hailed 'leader' Gareth McConaghie after the defender announced his retirement from football.
The Bannsiders ' defensive linchpin has called time on his career after struggling with a knee problem for the past 18 months.
Kearney praised the 34-year-old for playing a "big part" in the club's growth over the past number of years.
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He also highlighted one incident in 2020 when Coleraine recorded a famous European win over NK Maribor.
“We will all remember Maribor and Gareth was frustrated with the knee at that point, he was probably not meant to be on that trip at all but we decided to bring him across to keep him moving and training," Kearney told the club's website.
“We had an injury elsewhere and Gareth was named on the bench and we needed someone to play in front of the back four in extra-time and he put his hand up.
“He came on and kicked everything that moved for 15 minutes and the whistle hadn’t gone and him and Ian Parkhill were the first two guys to say that they were hitting a penalty.
“He rattled in a penalty that’s as good as you’ll see and that epitomises Gareth as a leader by action on pitch and he’ll be someone who will be fondly remembered by everyone involved at the club.”
McConaghie joined Coleraine in the summer of 2016 after a spell in junior football and went on to score seven goals in 144 appearances.
In 2017/18 he was named in the NIFWA Team of the Year, and was named as Man of the Match as Coleraine won the Irish Cup against Cliftonville.
The Dervock native made five appearances in the Europa League, including that night in Slovenia when he scored in the penalty shootout as Coleraine recorded a famous win over Maribor.
Kearney added: “I think the last 12 or even 18 months has been highly frustrating for Gareth.
“We’ve tried everything and he’s tried everything to try and get back and train and play regularly, but sadly, it hasn’t happened.
“Particularly in the last two months, he’s been at that point where he’s been close to pulling the plug and to bring yourself to that point where you’re going to retire is extremely tough to do for any sportsman.
“Gareth has been a big, big part of the growth of our club and the success of the last six years."
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