Manchester City legend Joe Hart revealed why he has decided to retire from football at the end of the season.
The goalkeeper’s club, Celtic, announced on Thursday afternoon that Joe Hart will be hanging up the gloves at the end of the current season.
The 36-year-old has been at the Glasgow club since 2021, making 138 appearances, and though he feels fit, he wants to retire on his own terms rather than be forced out of the game through fitness issues.
Joe Hart explains why he’s retiring from football
Speaking in a video on Celtic’s website, Hart said: “So this is something I’ve thought about for a while, there’s never a right or wrong time is there?
“But the way this club works, there’s so much on it. So much heart and soul poured into what we’re doing as a football club.
“But with the grand scheme of the club and the conversations that go around it, there’s a conversation around the goalkeeper position for next season.
“So I think it was really important, with the blessing from the club, that we get the message out.
“It takes one thing off the table that people need to speculate over. I’m definitely not going to be there next season, I’m not going to be available to play football next season.
“Physically I feel great, I feel as good as I possibly can do for my age and what I’ve done physically to my body.
“I’ve been on the bench since I was 15, involved in professional football, especially from 16 onwards.
“I’ve had peaks, in terms of fitness. From 30 onwards football hasn’t been as clean for me.
“From 31-34, mentally, where was I at? I don’t know because I didn’t feel like I had a place any more but physically I feel like my game is in a really good place at the moment.
“But I’m aware that time waits for no man and I don’t want my body to be retiring me, that was one of the key factors. Thinking, you know what, I can smash through the finish line here.”
A Man City great
Hart’s time at City may have ended acrimoniously as he was instantly pushed out of the side upon Pep Guardiola’s arrival in 2016 but he will always go down as a club legend.
The shot-stopper arrived at the Etihad Stadium in 2006 as a youngster from Shrewsbury and rose through the ranks to the first team.
Hart was an integral part of City’s early success following the Abu Dhabi Group’s takeover and made 348 appearances during his 12 years at the club. Winning two Premier League titles, an FA Cup and a League Cup.
The last two years of his tenure were spent out on loan at Torino and West Ham United before he sealed a permanent switch to Burnley in 2018.
Hart served as a backup at Turf Moor and then for a season at Tottenham Hotspur before earning a move to Celtic where he has enjoyed his last seasons back as a regular starter.
He also earned 75 caps for England.
