The Irishman, now of Reading and once of Manchester United, spent seven seasons with the Black Cats.
John O’Shea, formerly Sunderland’s captain, has announced that he will retire from professional football at the end of the season.
The 38-year-old defender has enjoyed an illustrious and fruitful career in the upper echelons of English football as well as for the Republic of Ireland national team.
Currently at Reading, O’Shea came through the Manchester United academy to make more than 250 senior appearances for the Red Devils.
He left Old Trafford to join Sunderland in the summer of 2011 and spent seven seasons at the Stadium of Light, upping sticks last summer to join the Royals.
Reading confirmed the news on the player’s 38th birthday on Twitter.
Sunderland paid tribute to their former player with a tweet of their own on Tuesday afternoon:
Here is how some of the Black Cats faithful reacted, with a few urging their club and the player to come to an agreement in terms of a coaching role:
O’Shea also enjoyed a long international career and is one of only six Republic of Ireland players to have picked up over 100 caps, having played 118 times for his country.
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