SCOTT BROWN has confirmed he will leave Aberdeen immediately after the club terminated his contract which still had over a year to run.
The 36-year-old Celtic and Scotland legend is quitting Pittodrie just a month after former Hibs team-mate Stephen Glass had been sacked following the Scottish Cup exit against Motherwell at Fir Park, as Scotzinereported.
Brown moved to Pittodrie when his Parkhead contract expired at the end of May last year to rejoin his friend who had taken over at the north-east club from long-serving Derek McInnes.
The midfield warrior agreed a two-year deal which would see him combing coaching with playing.
However, the one-time international skipper had reportedly become concerned with the lack of off-the-field opportunities since the arrival of Jim Goodwin from St Mirren.
RED ALERT…Scott Brown makes one of his all-too-brief appearances for Aberdeen.
GREEN FOR GO…Scott Brown celebrates one of his six Scottish Cup winners’ medals for Celtic, part of his 22-trophy haul.
BLUE BHOY…Scott Brown captains Scotland in one of his 55 international outings.
After just 24 Premiership games for the club, Brown has decided to call it a day and look to extend his career elsewhere.
An emotional return to Celtic has already been mooted and Ange Postecoglou, who became Neil Lennon’s long-term successor in June, is the man who holds the key in that particular situation.
A statement from Brown thanked the club and Stephen Glass for bringing him to the Dons, but significantly there was no mention of Goodwin.
He said: “I would like to take this opportunity to firstly thank the board at Aberdeen and, of course, Stephen Glass and his backroom staff, for giving me the opportunity to enjoy my first taste of coaching.
“I’d also like to thank all my team-mates and the great staff both at Cormack Park and Pittodrie.
“I know I was only in the North-east for a short period, but the fans made me feel welcome from day one, so my thanks must also go to them for showing me so much support.
“Aberdeen is a huge club and I know there is a real determination from all to deliver success both on and off the pitch. I wish them all the best for the remainder of the season.””.
Fifer Brown came through the Hibs youth system and was part of John Collins’ side which won the League Cup in 2007.
STARTER FOR TEN…Scott Brown (extreme left) celebrates with his Celtic team-mates after his first title triumph in 2008 – another nine successive flags would follow later in his glittering career.
Gordon Strachan shelled out a Scottish record £4.4million to sign him for Celtic in May 2007. The legendary captain spent 14 years in the east end of Glasgow and won a phenemonal TWENTY-TWO honours, 10 league titles, six Scottish Cups and six League Cups.
Brown made more than 600 appearances for the Hoops and also played under Tony Mowbray, Neil Lennon, in two stints, Ronny Deila and Brendan Rodgers.
The gritty anchorman also made 55 appearances for Scotland, captaining his country from 2014 to 2017.
Between club and international football, he made 842 senior appearances, scoring 72 goals and winning 23 trophies.
