Joe Hart will go down as a real iconic and legendary figure at Celtic now that he is well into his retirement from football.
Even before his arrival at Parkhead, Hart was already a legend in the game after picking up 75 caps for England, two English Premier League titles, an FA Cup and two English League Cups.
In three seasons in Glasgow, Hart also became the second-ever Celtic player to win every domestic honour on both sides of the border as he picked up seven trophies out of nine which included the record-breaking eighth domestic treble.
But that wasn’t what he was talking about when he admits he got to something that footballers rarely get to do in their careers and Hart is pleased he got to have his ‘unique’ memory at Celtic.
Hart’s Celtic love for ‘a truly special club’
The former England international’s bond with Celtic and the fans really was special. At 34 when he signed, Hart took Celtic to his heart and the fans instantly recognised that.
Admitting that he ‘loved’ the club, Hart says that was the reason he got to do something ‘really unique’ that most footballers rarely get to do in their careers.
Hart said [The High Performance Podcast], “So I got to do something really unique, I think because football’s a fast business. I decided I was going to finish. I wanted to own the fact that I was going to finish.
“I told people early. I told a truly special football club that I wanted to finish with them because I loved them. I didn’t want anything else.
“I didn’t want anything else from football. Whether it had anything to offer me, I don’t know. I didn’t have to do those chess moves. I didn’t even want to go into that.
“And spoke from the heart about something and it might not have gone well. We were probably second in the league when I said it, and we had a cup final where we were going to have to play our greatest rivals, I could have walked away potless in my last season.
“But I just wanted people to know that even though I was finishing, I wanted to finish strong.
“And then did finish strong.”
Like many Celtic fans, I could listen to Joe Hart speak about the club all day, every day. Just listening to the emotion in his voice, you can hear a genuine love and affection for the Parkhead club, the players and the supporters.
Now working as a pundit at Euro 2024, Hart has been impressing with his own unique style as he imparts his knowledge of the game in front of the cameras.
Whatever Hart decides to do after his punditry work is done this summer, you can bet the Celtic fans will be keeping a close eye on a former hero they have a deep affection for.