Dave Mackay could “happily have retired” straight after captaining St Johnstone to their historic Scottish Cup triumph.
The defender has taken the decision to hang up his boots at the age of 35 after struggling to recover from two hip operations.
There have been seven successful years at McDiarmid Park but one afternoon in Glasgow made ‘Cuptie’ a Saints legend and, unsurprisingly, sits above all others.
“There have been great nights in Europe here,” he said. “But being the first captain of St Johnstone to lift the Scottish Cup in 2014 is the highlight of my career, no question.
“I could happily have retired the day after we beat Dundee United.
“I have had some great moments but that was special. It has been an incredible seven years here. And if you had offered me all this at the beginning of my career I would have bitten your hand off.”
Mackay is comfortable with his retirement decision, even though he could have squeezed out a couple more seasons in the lower leagues.
The former Dundee and Livingston man, whose last start of his 264 for the Perth side was the League Cup semi-final defeat to Hibs last season, said: “To be honest I had my doubts even leading up to the second hip operation within eight months.
“It was always going to be touch and go to get back playing.
“I gave it my best shot, gave it everything. I have got back to a certain level. I can run, I can kick a ball but I don’t feel I’d be up to the level required for top flight football.
“Possibly I could have dropped down a level. If I had been younger I might have been desperate to keep playing. But I have to be realistic. I am 35 now and I’m happy to finish at this stage of my career.
“There would always have been that wee niggling feeling if I hadn’t won something. I was 21 when I played in a cup final for Dundee and lost to Rangers in my first full season as a regular.
“You think there will be other chances but I lost plenty of semi-finals.”
Mackay added: “I have had to think of life out with football. That was the main factor in my decision to call it a day. I don’t want to be suffering the consequences a few years down the line.
“I could have got back playing at some level but I have a wife and two children to think about.
“My son Callum is only three years old and I want to be able to kick a ball about with him. I don’t want to miss out on that just to squeeze another year or two out of playing. It’s not worth the gamble.
“I spoke to my family and my agent Allan Preston because he suffered a similar injury which ended his playing career.
“The surgeon has been happy and I have not been told I can’t play football again. But there has been a gradual progression to this decision.”
Mackay has already dipped his toe into the coaching waters, and his enthusiasm for the next stage of his football career is high.
“Moving forward I completed my A licence in the summer and I have already been helping out with the under-20s here,” he said.
“That has been a good experience taking coaching sessions. As a player you turn up and everything is set up for you at training. But I have seen a totally different side of football, planning the sessions. I am really enjoying it.
“My last game was at the end of January. In a way that was probably when I retired. While I was going through the rehab I have been watching a lot of football and going to games with a different perspective.
“Not many players get this sort of opportunity. I can build up the experience and see if doors open up here or at another club. It’s difficult getting an opportunity because there are so many lads out of work. But I want to stay in football and I will give it my best shot.
“The manager and the chairman are doing everything they can to look after me. We will just have to see what the future holds but coaching is definitely where I see myself going now.”
