It was former Aberdeen stalwart Jim Leighton and Rangers' Andy Goram who first started to build real respect for Scottish goalkeepers.
After a bit of a lull following their joint 1998 World Cup disappointment, with Rab Douglas and Neil Sullivan holding fort, Scotland entered another golden era of goalkeeping.
Gordon was firmly at its heart from the moment he made his debut in 2004 against Trinidad and Tobago at Easter Road.
He would eventually fall seven short of Leighton's record 91 caps for a Scotland goalkeeper, but much of that was down to injuries.
Two of those were career-threatening, not to mention a double leg break at the age of 39 - one forcing him out of game for two years.
However, it was also down to intense competition from David Marshall, Allan McGregor and, latterly as age started to creep on Gordon, Angus Gunn.
Marshall played 47 times for his country and McGregor made 43 appearances to become Scotland's fourth and sixth most-capped goalkeepers respectively.
No Scottish keeper, though, before or since, has commanded a British record transfer fee, such was his stock when Sunderland paid Hearts £9m for his services in 2007.
His career in England's top flight was halted by that two-year injury absence, but he would return to win silverware galore at Celtic before receiving a hero's welcome back at hometown club Hearts.
Former Hearts and Scotland boss Craig Levein suggested: "Other than superb ability, his calmness was the thing - even as a young lad, making his debut and such.
"From very early on you could tell he was going to be a top, top player."
Former striker Rory Loy said the outpouring of tributes were a reminder of Gordon's greatness.
"He's just been a staple of the last 20-odd years between the sticks, whether it be Hearts, Celtic, Sunderland back to Hearts again," he told the BBC Scottish Football Podcast.
"He's been fantastic. Watching all the reels that have come out on social media of all these top saves, culminating in that one at Dens Park last year, which was an incredible save.
"It just feels like the end of an era in in terms of Scottish goalkeeping."
Livingston defender Cammy Kerr recalled how Gordon, the oldest player at this year's World Cup, had also won a save of the season poll at Sunderland.
"Played against him a few times - just an incredible goalkeeper," he added.
"I know it didn't end well in terms of getting through the group stage, but just getting to the World Cup would have been massive for him at that time of his career."
