Cape Town City has expressed its gratitude to Marc Van Heerden, a stalwart defender who has decided to hang up his boots.

The 36-year-old announced his retirement on Sunday, following the expiration of his contract with the club at the end of last season.

In a statement, Cape Town City praised Van Heerden as a consummate professional and a legendary figure in the team. The club thanked him for his invaluable contributions and wished him all the best in his future endeavors.

Van Heerden had already begun planning for his post-playing career before the end of last season. He traveled to Scotland to enroll in a UEFA B coaching license course with the Scottish Football Association. The opportunity arose due to a suspension he received in the final match of the season against Mamelodi Sundowns.

The veteran defender’s course enrolment sparked rumors of retirement, with City having offered him a contract extension of one-year last season. Despite his advanced age, Van Heerden remained a valuable asset to the team, starting 20 out of 25 league matches and demonstrating his versatility by playing both as a center-back and a left-back.

Throughout his career, Van Heerden represented several clubs, including AmaZulu, Chippa United, Orlando Pirates, Stellenbosch, and Cape Town City. He made significant contributions to each team and was known for his strong defensive abilities and accurate deliveries. However, during his time with Pirates, he was involved in the team’s 6-0 drubbing by Sundowns at Loftus Stadium in February 2017. He featured in 296 matches, scoring 19 goals along with 15 assists.

At Cape Town City’s end-of-season awards ceremony, Van Heerden was honored with the Citizen Award, recognizing his exceptional service to the club and his embodiment of its values.

As Van Heerden embarks on a new chapter in his life, it is not clear what next for the defender who was good in his deliveries.