Colm Cooper said he was most natural footballer in @Kerry_Official team. After epic career Marc O Sé confirms retirement to Dara O Cinneide.

— Tony Leen (@tonyleen) October 12, 2016

Ó Sé won five All-Ireland titles in his 14 year inter-county career, the most recent in 2014.

In 2006, the year Kerry beat Cork to claim the title, O Sé won the first of three All-Stars. He won the second the following year, when he was also named Footballer of the Year.

Ó Sé played 176 times for Kerry and shares the record for championship appearances (88) with his brother Tomás. He won an incredible 10 Munster SFC titles and three National League medals.

In a statement he said: “A chairde, Today, I announce my retirement from the Kerry Senior Football Team. It has been 16 years since I first became a member of the Kerry Senior Panel and now I feel it is the right time for me, my family and Kerry to hang up my boots.

“I wish to thank my family for all their support throughout my career with Kerry.

“I wish to thank Jack O'Connor, Pat O'Shea and of course Eamonn Fitzmaurice for all their guidance and support during my years wearing the green and gold. I would also like to pay special tribute to my late uncle Páidí who guided me through my first two seasons with Kerry, particularly when there were question marks still hanging over me, but he continued to believe in me and while Paidí was no longer Kerry manager from 2003 onwards he remained a huge influence and a constant mentor throughout my career.

“I wish to thank the Kerry supporters for all their support down through the years.

“I wish the Kerry team all the best in the years ahead and I have no doubt that they will recapture Sam in the not too distant future.

“Of course I will miss playing with Kerry, miss the craic and friendships with the lads and most of all miss those big days out in Croke Park but now I look forward to my future with my partner and my young family.”

He shared many of his glory days for Kerry with brothers Darragh and Tomás, who retired in 2010 and 2013 respectively.

Tributes

Kerry manager Eamonn Fitzmaurice thanked Ó Sé, describing him as “an outstanding servant for the Green and Gold”.

“On behalf of the Kerry management and players I would like to congratulate Marc Ó Sé on his retirement. He has been an outstanding servant for the Green and Gold with a senior inter county career that stretches over fifteen years.

“He has played under four different managers and won five All Ireland medals and numerous individual awards in a stellar career.

“I had the honour of both playing and managing Marc. He was an outstanding teammate and a pleasure to manage. He for many years was the back that got to mark the opposition’s number one danger man.”

Social media has been flooded with tributes to the defender.

Marc Ó Sé was the best corner back of this generation & one of the all-time greats 👏

— Seán Ó Hoireabhárd (@Hoireabhard) October 12, 2016

Marc Ó Sé, what a Footballer and what a man. A legend of the GAA and always served Kerry so well! One of the best ever #CiarraiAbu

— Diarmuid Nolan (@dermonolan91) October 12, 2016