Jamie Langfield is happy to have gone out in style if yesterday’s testimonial match for Aberdeen proves to be his final game for the club.
The 35-year-old put in a man of the match display to help his side beat Championship club Brighton and Hove Albion at Pittodrie.
For Langfield, who dropped to his knees and kissed the pitch before heading down the tunnel, the appearance could be his swansong for the club with Championship club St Mirren heavily linked with a move for the goalkeeper, who has become third choice at Pittodrie behind Danny Ward and Scott Brown.
Langfield said: “It did feel as though it could have been my last game for Aberdeen at Pittodrie.
“You never know, if I did leave I could come back with another team, but I was emotional at full time.
“Never say never. If it was to be my last game at Pittodrie it was good to go out on a high and finish with a clean sheet and win.
“I had to earn my clean sheet with a few saves in the first half but the main thing was my wife and kids had a great day.
“I still don’t feel old, I’m throwing myself about like an 18-year-old and if it is to be my last time out there I will cherish it when I look back on my career.”
With the Dons players heading to Kazakhstan tomorrow for their third qualifying round first leg tie against Kairat, Langfield will not be pressing manager Derek McInnes for permission to leave.
He said: “I’m preparing for Kairat and you never know what can happen in football.
“We’ve got a massive game on Thursday and the manager is focused on that, so there is no rush whatsoever.
“We’ll have a chat in the next couple of weeks but I know how important these games are.
“I’ve got my family to think about as my wife is at university and my kids are starting school so it is not a decision I’ll be making overnight.”
Kairat maintained their place as league leaders of the Kazakhstan Premier League with a 3-1 win at Tobol yesterday courtesy of a double from Serbian attacker Djordje Despotovic, who made it four goals in the last four games, and an Aslan Darabayev goal.
The Dons warmed up for the trip with Adam Rooney’s goal giving them a 1-0 win.
The Dons goalkeeper, who walked out with his daughters Maisie and Ruby, made several fine saves in front of a disappointing attendance of 3,513 but was pleased to keep a clean sheet.
He said: “They are a big physical side and it was a tough game to play, but we came into it in the second half and got the goal through Adam.”