Former Manchester City and England goalkeeper Joe Hart has declared his intention to retire from professional football at the end of the season, expressing his desire to leave a lasting impact with Scottish Premiership champions Celtic before hanging up his gloves.
Hart, who will be 37 when his current three-year contract with Celtic concludes, boasts an illustrious career that includes 75 caps for England and 348 appearances for Manchester City, where he secured two Premier League titles.
Having played a pivotal role in Celtic’s recent success, including helping the club secure five out of six domestic trophies in the past two seasons under Ange Postecoglou, Hart remains determined to contribute to the team’s ongoing pursuit of excellence.
“Mentally I’m in that one place that I like to be, I’m in a place of clarity,” Hart shared with Celtic TV.
“Obviously, I’ve thought about this a lot. I think the right time is now. I’ve got the clarity of mind that I was able to go to the club and explain my position and them totally understand.”
He continued, emphasizing his commitment to finishing strong, “I am aware time waits for no man and I don’t want my body to be retiring me. That was one of the key factors, thinking I can smash through the finish line.”
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers hailed Hart’s remarkable career, praising his contributions both on and off the field. “For all he has done in football, Joe deserves huge praise and congratulations,” Rodgers stated.
“He has been such a brilliant asset to Celtic of course and the wider game at the highest levels, domestically and internationally. But more than that, he is a tremendous man, just brilliant to work with.”
