The curtain finally fell on Joe Hart’s illustrious career at the weekend, the ‘keeper ending his playing days in perhaps the best way possible as he kept a clean sheet in Celtic’s 1-0 Scottish Cup final win over Rangers.
When he joined Celtic off the back of the much-maligned COVID season, many fans weren’t entirely convinced by Hart.
Throughout his three years in Glasgow, though, he brought stability between the sticks and moulded into a key figure in the dressing room.
The 37-year-old was elite in his performances but when dealing with his teammates, Hart was equally as classy.
Indeed, centre-half Liam Scales has revealed how the ‘keeper helped him when he was beginning to get a run in the team, assuring him that he belonged in the starting lineup.
He said: (Official Celtic FC Podcast) “It has been an absolute pleasure playing with him.
“He sort of pulled me at different times in the season when we’ve been winning games and doing well and he’s pulled me and said ‘You’re part of this, you’re this standard, this is you’.”
For Scales to get such praise and encouragement from someone the calibre of Hart, especially when he may have been doubting himself, would have been a huge confidence booster.
Then when the Hoops beat Rangers 2-1 at Parkhead a few weeks ago to practically seal the title, the ‘keeper once again made a beeline for the centre-back.
Scales said: “When we beat Rangers here (Celtic Park), he (Hart) grabbed me and he was like ‘I told you halfway through the season, this is you, this is where you are, this is where you have to be’.”
A great of the modern game, Hart went out on the most almighty of highs last Saturday. He got the perfect send-off, and can now enjoy a leisurely retirement.
