Former Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart has reflected on his time at the Hoops, speaking warmly about his three years at the club.
Now, as Kasper Schmeichel has taken over as Celtic’s number one following his free transfer in the summer, Hart shared his fond memories of his time in Glasgow and the bond he developed with the club and the Celtic support.
A Dream Move to Celtic
Joe Hart joined Celtic in August 2021 after leaving Tottenham Hotspur, looking to reignite his career after a challenging few years. His debut came in a 4–2 Europa League qualifying win against FK Jablonec, and he soon made his mark in the Scottish Premiership with a clean sheet in a 6–0 win over Dundee at Celtic Park. That season, Hart played a key role in a league and League Cup double. He also played a huge part in Celtic’s domestic treble in the 2022–23 season, further cementing his place as an important player under Ange Postecoglou.
Hart’s Retirement and Legacy
In February 2024, Joe Hart announced his retirement from football after an illustrious career. He played his final game in the Scottish Cup final in May 2024, where Celtic clinched the cup against Rangers in a 1-0 win, with Hart keeping a clean sheet in his final game as a player. Hart’s impact at Celtic was undeniable, and his leadership and experience played a significant part in the Hoops’ rebuild under Ange Postecoglou and Brendan Rodgers’ first season back in Glasgow.
A Fond Farewell
Reflecting on his time at Celtic, Hart spoke passionately about the experience, he said: (talkSport), “I absolutely loved it, I earned a good career and then, towards the end, it started to peter out. I thought, ‘wow, maybe I just got to have my peak years and then that’s football’. Then, to have the opportunity to go up there and have three years of just demanding excellence and demanding results.”
Hart went on to express his admiration for his successor, Kasper Schmeichel, saying, “I hear Kasper talk about it now and I can see why he is so in love with it because I felt exactly the same. It’s a different feeling from winning to being expected to win. Then go onto the next game, win, win, win, and win all of those trophies. The kids were at a great age to enjoy it and it was a magical three years.”
A New Era for Celtic Goalkeeping
As Schmeichel stepped into the number one spot at Celtic, it’s clear that Joe Hart’s time at the club left a lasting impression. The Danish goalkeeper has followed on brilliantly, but Hart’s influence on Celtic’s success in recent years will always be remembered fondly by the support.
However, Schmeichel himself has also impressed, keeping 24 clean sheets in 45 games across all competitions this season. In the league, he has conceded only 17 goals in 29 games, showing that he has carried on exactly where Hart left off last season.
