Celtic will need to source a new goalkeeper in the summer due to Joe Hart’s impending retirement from professional football.
The 36-year-old has enjoyed a distinguished career at the top level and ranked among the best players in his position across the world during the early 2010s.
In his time at Parkhead, Hart has made 144 appearances for Celtic, conceding 135 goals and keeping 60 clean sheets [Transfermarkt].
Five winners medals have also made their way into his extensive collection, and he will hope to round that up to seven before the 2023/24 season draws to a close.
With eight league matches remaining, the Bhoys sit one point ahead of Rangers ahead of our crucial Glasgow Derby at Ibrox this weekend.
On the same token, there is also scope for Brendan Rodgers to continue his impeccable Scottish Cup record if we can navigate past Aberdeen in the semi-final, followed by the winner of Heart of Midlothian vs Rangers the following day.
Playing his part in a domestic double would be an excellent way to bow out for Hart, who will be dearly missed at Parkhead amid his excellent performances this season.
Nevertheless, it is probably the right time for both parties to seek new ventures, though the ex-England international will be desperate to get his hands on some silverware come May.
Joe Hart opens up on emotional final months at Celtic and future
There is always sadness when one of the game’s great characters decides to call time on their career, though Hart has revealed he is already looking forward to cheering on Celtic as a fan, claiming the association he now has with the Scottish Premiership holders is forever-binding.
The former Manchester City icon has also spoken about what will be his last visit to Ibrox as a player and his excitement for the fixture despite no away fans being allowed in to cheer the Bhoys on.
He explained [The Herald]: “I genuinely look forward to supporting this club forever, it’s a part of me. This is me removing myself from a guy who doesn’t want to talk about what’s next, but I look forward to being a football supporter at some point in my life. And this is one of the teams I’ll be a fan of.
“I’m going to remove myself from the situation I’m in now because my immediate reaction is that it means nothing to me (away allocation restoration). But if I was to take away the guy I’ll be when it’s going on, it’ll be great.
“It’ll be a real buzz. I’ve played in a 50-50 split here when it was at Hampden and it was electric. come out the good side, come out the bad side; it’s emotional.
“Since I’ve been here, we’ve had fans, I think the most has been 700-750, and it was strange at the start of the season, winning away and having no-one to put your gratitude towards.
“Because even though we played without supporters that day you still feel it in the build-up, to have your support and your club behind you, so it’ll be nice, it’ll be a great spectacle.
“Around the world, this fixture is heavily respected, and to keep that respect, you need away supporters in there. You never know, I might be one of those couple of thousand (in the future).”
Joe Hart has been a brilliant servant for Celtic
Hart has given three solid years of service to Celtic and came in when we needed stability and leadership after a disastrous 2020/21 campaign.
No matter what happens this season, history will be kind to the experienced stopper, who has fully bought into every aspect of life at Parkhead and gained the appreciation of the wider support.
Nevertheless, he is a serial winner and will be determined to end his time in Glasgow with silverware, and hopefully, Hart can have his happy ending before riding off into the sunset this summer.