Who could follow as Gordon leaves Scotland as a legend?

For many, Craig Gordon's decision to end his playing career at the age of 43 marks "an end of an era" in Scottish goalkeeping.

The former Celtic, Heart of Midlothian, Sunderland and Scotland stalwart did as much as anyone to silence the old jokes about the inadequacies of Scottish goalkeepers.

But having battled through the pain of a series of career-threatening injuries to make this summer's World Cup finals, and having come to the end of his Hearts contract, Gordon has decided he has put his body on the line one last time.

So what does it mean for his legacy - and for the future of Scottish goalkeeping?

It was former Aberdeen stalwart Jim Leighton and Rangers' Andy Goram who first started to build real respect for Scottish goalkeepers.

After a bit of a lull following their joint 1998 World Cup disappointment, with Rab Douglas and Neil Sullivan holding fort, Scotland entered another golden era of goalkeeping.

Gordon was firmly at its heart from the moment he made his debut in 2004 against Trinidad and Tobago at Easter Road.

He would eventually fall seven short of Leighton's record 91 caps for a Scotland goalkeeper, but much of that was down to injuries.

Two of those were career-threatening, not to mention a double leg break at the age of 39 - one forcing him out of game for two years.

However, it was also down to intense competition from David Marshall, Allan McGregor and, latterly as age started to creep on Gordon, Angus Gunn.

Marshall played 47 times for his country and McGregor made 43 appearances to become Scotland's fourth and sixth most-capped goalkeepers respectively.

No Scottish keeper, though, before or since, has commanded a British record transfer fee, such was his stock when Sunderland paid Hearts £9m for his services in 2007.

His career in England's top flight was halted by that two-year injury absence, but he would return to win silverware galore at Celtic before receiving a hero's welcome back at hometown club Hearts.

Former Hearts and Scotland boss Craig Levein suggested: "Other than superb ability, his calmness was the thing - even as a young lad, making his debut and such.

"From very early on you could tell he was going to be a top, top player."

Former striker Rory Loy said the outpouring of tributes were a reminder of Gordon's greatness.

"He's just been a staple of the last 20-odd years between the sticks, whether it be Hearts, Celtic, Sunderland back to Hearts again," he told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast.

"He's been fantastic. Watching all the reels that have come out on social media of all these top saves, culminating in that one at Dens Park last year, which was an incredible save.

"It just feels like the end of an era in in terms of Scottish goalkeeping."

Livingston defender Cammy Kerr recalled how Gordon, the oldest player at this year's World Cup, had also won a save of the season poll at Sunderland.

"Played against him a few times - just an incredible goalkeeper," he added.

"I know it didn't end well in terms of getting through the group stage, but just getting to the World Cup would have been massive for him at that time of his career."

It was not just tributes from fellow professionals that flooded in, but fans shared their thoughts too on Gordon's 25-year career that began at Hearts, but with a debut on loan at Cowdenbeath in the Scottish Second Division.

Molly: An amazing career. Hearts through and through. That save against Dundee last year is one of the best saves I think I will ever see. A true leader when he was captain, very grateful to have watched him play for club and country, gave it his all every time.

David: Gordon will fondly be remembered as one of the all-time greats in the history of our club. Not only was he an outstanding goalkeeper but is a really nice person as well. Don't be lost to football altogether Craig.

Madge: Always a class act on and off the pitch, articulate and measured. Despite the injuries and across the ages, his performances never wavered. Reckon he should have played for one of the top English teams but pleased he finished his career at Hearts.

Nick: Legend of a goalkeeper. Worryingly probably still the best we've got despite his ageing years.

Bryan: Without a doubt, Craig is the best Hearts keeper of all time. A brilliant shot stopper and a great servant to Hearts and Scotland.

Alex: I've been lucky to witness some excellent keepers at Tynecastle, but Craig is the best of them all and the best keeper Scotland has ever had.

Clairee: A true Scottish footballing legend. Getting to play for the club you support and your country is the stuff dreams are made of and he did it with class, determination and resilience, a hero for kids to look up to.

Bill: Great keeper for all his clubs and country. As a Celtic fan, I thought we let him go far too soon, as his form at Hearts proved. Hopefully he won't be lost to the game and maybe become a great goalkeeping coach.

Chris C: He's been such a great goalkeeper for so long. To come back from serious injury and still produce the level and standard he has is amazing. My abiding memory of him will always be in the Scottish Cup final of the treble season, on his knees in pure emotion. An amazing servant with Celtic.

Chris: What he achieved after two years out of the game when he came to Celtic was remarkable. To walk into Celtic, be the number one goalkeeper, and immediately deliver performances of real authority said everything about his quality and mentality. And to carry that standard deep into his 40s now is nothing short of extraordinary. A brilliant career, a model professional and a goalkeeper whose shot stopping skills were sensational.

Paul: Best modern era goalkeeper Scotland have had. Utterly fantastic period at Celtic too.

Despite all the accolades, the fact that Gordon, whose struggles with injury and the form of Alexander Schwolow meant the veteran only played three times for Hearts last season, was still one of Scotland's three goalkeepers at the World Cup was an indication of the current paucity of options.

Liam Kelly, who was firmly number two to Jack Butland with Rangers, was the other, while current number one Gunn had himself only played once for Nottingham Forest.

Gunn will be hopeful of more game time following his summer move to San Jose Earthquakes, but who might challenge the 30-year-old?

Ipswich Town's Cieran Slicker was being touted as the next big hope but had an unfortunate substitute appearance in a 3-1 defeat by Iceland last year. Still developing at the age of 23, he has been farmed out to Barnsley in League One.

Kerr pointed out Scott Bain "had a great season last season with Falkirk", while Jon McCracken had moved to Bradford City from Dundee this summer.

"Do they have the experience in terms of what Craig Gordon brought? Not yet, but that's where you've got to chuck them in and see how they do," he suggested.

Loy agreed they lack the experience "but ultimately they don't have the quality of Craig Gordon and that's no slight on any of those goalkeepers".

"Craig Gordon was phenomenal and if he decided to stay on then he probably would have been able to play for another season," he added.

"The names that Cammy read out are good, decent goalkeepers, but they're not superstar names like we've been used to.

"So, while they'll be able to do a job, it would be nice if another young goalkeeper, Scottish goalkeeper, came through and started to show signs of what we've been used to."