John O’Shea is expected to announce the end of his playing career within the next five weeks.

After collecting 14 leading honours in his 19-year-career, the 36-year-old Sunderland and Ireland defender will leave the sport as one of the most decorated players in Irish football history, having accumulated a medal collection that is surpassed by only four compatriots: Denis Irwin, Roy Keane, Steve Heighway and Ronnie Whelan.

O’Shea had hoped to bow out after the World Cup finals in Russia, but Ireland’s failure to see off Denmark in last November’s play-off ended that particular plan. In all likelihood, he will relocate with his family to live in Waterford, the city in which he grew up and left as a 17-year-old in 1999 to join Manchester