Celtic is a feeling. It will forever be in my heart. | Joe Hart's Final Exclusive CelticTV Interview

[Music] Joe we sit here just a day before your final game at Celtic Park sum up if you can the last three seasons for us in terms of your expectations coming to the club compared to how you feel about Celtic now as you get set to leave um I was obviously very excited to come uh I think I made it pretty pretty clear that when I came I wasn't quite sure where I fitted in in the footballing world uh having had you know a pretty good career through my 20s um and felt like I really belonged in football uh to you know Co and me falling out the team and falling out the favor coming out the national team and everything just just felt like it was was going away from me if I'm being totally honest I still felt like the same player same uh same person but football um it didn't feel like it had a place for me anymore which is you know nothing's promised this is the this is the top end of the game um of which the levels that I've been playing at millions and millions of people are trying to play at that level so I'm not the only goalkeeper on the planet I know that and uh and I was starting to think you know what maybe maybe this is my time I've had all the fun that I can have obviously Tottenham not ideal in terms of um the new manager that came in and his thoughts towards me but whatever uh and then got the opportunity to speak to an a club that I've always had my eye on I'll be honest I've always I've always watched them cuz you know one of my teammates stroke someone who I thought very highly of as a goalkeeper Fraser was here and I was always aware of what he was doing because I'm trying to keep my place in England and and and it's a club we all know about um so when I got the opportunity I wanted it I really did want it and there wasn't much that I wanted I'll be honest there wasn't anything else uh that was available to me that really made me think I want this so uh so when it happened I was obviously off the back of a a tough season the season before Co and things like that had obviously affected this place you know we see what it's like when the supports here um bit up in the air you know not not quite winning the 10 in a row and things like that and I just thought it was a great opportunity to go there speaking to the manager speaking to to woodsy obviously getting to speak to Callum that it's you know the fire the desire is there it just needs a few people to help it and uh I thought I could be one of those yeah so here we are sitting here the day before your final game at at Celtic Park how how is your connection to the club now compared to to then well you know we all come in new um we all come in open-minded uh and I was I'm aware that when I came I don't think I would have been a marquee signing I don't think I don't think I would have been a signing that people necessarily would have been clambering for um cuz like I say I was it just thoughts on me and myself as I don't even know as a as a person and as a goalkeeper I think they were a bit mixed um having been so successful and you know I'm very confident how I behave and that can be misconstrued as arrogance I know that but what can you do I just love playing football and I love giving my all and I'll back my team and I'll back my teammates um so yeah I I knew and I was aware that having been at my previous two clubs uh people didn't quite know how it take me but I knew that when I felt at home and felt settled and felt valued that I do my best stuff um so I had to work on that uh but the only way I work on that is by just being constant being as professional as I can and giving my all uh and the club slowly started to warm towards me and and I appreciate that and if you were to look at that start of the relationship that's how all relationships start don't they even the special ones um you still got to get to know each other get to trust each other and where we are now you know it'll be forever forever in my heart this place I I absolutely love it and I'm I'm can't even put into words how proud I am to have played and represented it and and be welcomed my family young family impressionable family um the way that they've been made to feel uh is is really really special and uh and like I say I'll be forever grateful and I'm forever a supporter how will you remember Celtic when people ask you in the months and years to come what was it like at Celtic will you seek to to really try and help them understand the unique nature of this club and how it grabs you or maybe in a strange way would you prefer to keep it to yourself because it's something special that can't really be put into towards it can't and uh and I don't it's I'm very protective over that I'm very protective I don't I don't want to I don't want to sell this place I don't have to because you don't have to you either want to come and experience it and feel it and realize why people say the things they do or if you don't that's fine live your own life Do Your Own Thing have your own feelings but um I don't even think I could do it justice I think the smile on my face when I when when the place gets mentioned to me I I'll light up I think the smile on my family's face I've been you know I've got quite a close nit group of friends and family who've been everywhere with me in football everywhere and experienced everything that I've experienced and every single one of them that's come up here is has had their head blown off um and I'm I'm grateful for that and I'm proud of that but I don't think I don't think you need to fight for the for people to understand who don't it's it's it's for people to come and experience it's a feeling uh it's not words it's not examples it's a feeling and you either feel it or you don't for us of course it's the end of your time itself but for you it's the end of your playing career that began when you were a teenager at at shrewbury did you get everything you wanted from football I didn't want anything from it I just wanted to play so in Spades I I didn't I have never asked for anything I just wanted to play to the best level I possibly can give my all be a teammate help my teammates um make the supporters of the clubs that I play for feel comfortable that they've got the right Manning goal um and you know it's not perfect the career is not perfect I've not always made people feel that way but uh it's not through lack of effort what have been your Celtic highlights ah Jerry I don't know mate I honestly don't know I don't know there's all of it I don't even think there's a low light even the even the tough moments even the moments where you know we lost my first uh Rangers game away we lost Olivia away um we had moments this season where we were put under pressure I love those moments because it's the it's the the camaraderie it brings and it and and the Tipping points which way you're going to go and every single time we've gone the right way um and worked hard to under two you know incredible man managers I've been lucky enough to work under um I think I think for reflection on my career I think it's going to take me a long time before I can reflect because I'm still in it I'm still so in it and I still look at it like I'm still protective over my team over my over my teammates so to summarize I don't know but um I also know that I've loved every second of it let me ask you about your teammates here I think it's fair to say you're a popular guy in the dressing room I've not heard anyone say negative word about you they would say it's down to you and your character but relationships are a two-way thing so how much have you enjoyed the Celtic dressing room and how does it match up to others that you've been a part of the boys have been exceptional here I've loved the I Love the One Club I've love the you know the one Club boys the the Callum the Jamesy um Anthony Steven I love seeing people represent a club that means everything to them um and knowing that their families means everything to them uh and then we've managed we've got we you go from that extreme in this dressing room to you know bringing Boys in from the other side of the world you know we got Japanese players South Korean players um you know Lou Palmer Marco Tio like there's boys coming from all over the globe to come to unite for this one special Club um and you can see them all starting to to feel it and there's always new players coming in and new players going out and how you know how are we going to how are we going to keep moving forward uh and it's a dressing room that's very open very understanding really really well run I think you know as a whx lyrical about Callum as a as a person and as a captain he's he's absolutely superb and in terms of myself people have let me do my role in terms of I I like to care for people I'm obviously an older I'm an older Pro now uh I've got a lot I'm very protective I want to help and people have let me do that and that makes me happy um so probably the reason people are able to say nice things about me is cuz I've been happy um and I've I've been I felt like I've been able to be myself um that's that's one of the nicest feelings you can have and and and made many many great friendships here seeing people grow up seeing people have their first children um all stuff like that super special you were brought to the club by an POA coo now of course under the stewardship of Brendan Rogers but on a daily basis our goalkeeping coach Stevie Woods has worked with you the most he's been a a huge part of the success at this club in recent times what would you like to say about Stevie and also the other goalkeepers that you work and train with on a daily basis firstly Stevie Woods um has been absolutely unbelievable for me I can't speak hardly enough of him as a as a coach and as a person he's understood me um he's helped me no end I've you know I've learned so many new different things since I've been playing football up here um in terms of styles of play and and how to go about learning how to play because you know we're always learning doesn't matter what age you are and I think hopefully I'll continue to do that um he's he's spoke my language he's he's trusted me uh I've put a lot of trust in him and what what a great relationship to have that you know that will always live strong in my memory and in my experiences and it's it's a relationship that I'll draw on and you know I'm sure we'll speak in the future cuz I want to help as much as he wants to help the club you know ultimately he he has to have a relationship with his with his goalkeeper he has to um but then I think it's always nice when that relationship that's that's required turns into something special and like I say the trust is there and the belief in each other um you know he's backed me no end and and I can't thank him enough for that um obviously one one absolute continuous certainty in my life has been Scott Bane um love him he gives me he gives me a hard time he really does sharp sharp witted man uh really really good goalkeeper as well someone that probably doesn't get the credit they deserve but um in terms of supporting me the whole way through he's been exceptional um he's had my back I've lik to think I've had his back we've worked together as a team and and we've got the results and um that's special you need that camaraderie big Bene coming in as well you know it's not you know there's no getting away from it it's been difficult for him um but he's been exceptional again as a person um um I really enjoyed playing against him and I knew once I played against him that once he became a teammate you know we were obviously going to be we're Rivals for the Jersey but at the same time we we we've got a common goal um a lot of understanding towards each other and you need people like that in your life and you know I look forward to seeing his his career continue um you know we all want what's best for each other um and that's no different with bench you know even Barky last year tough for him um but you know he's found sorry two years ago Barky coming in um he's found his place and I'm happy for him because football it's not it's not necessarily down to Ability at certain points it's about what works with you and what what fits in your career uh and then also you know getting to work with with Toby who's who's away doing his thing in Austria at the moment good luck to him um a prospect Josh Clark absolute absolute breath of fresh air exceptional um I look forward to following his progress um yeah and all the young goalies that have worked with us um even ricey as well he's coming and done a great job this year all behind the scenes that people don't see but obviously we plan we're trying to build them up as people and as goalkeepers so we can we can see their their careers flourish your leadership qualities have been a great asset to the club you've woron the am band on a few occasions but Callum McGregor is our captain and someone you've struck up a real bond with he's someone you didn't know before you joined the club but I imagine he'll be a friend for life now yeah c callum's a an incredible person um he's he couldn't be any more perfect for this club um and the club Club couldn't be any more perfect for him that's that works two ways he's a hardworking tenacious individual who wants who's willing to do whatever it takes um and I don't mean that in terms of cut corners or do things that they shouldn't do I mean he's literally willing to do what it takes he'll he'll do the long route he'll take the high road um he'll integrate as best he can he'll do his best to make everyone feel comfortable but also he'll ask things of them that makes them uncomfortable um he was able to have the you know the foresight to see the this big idiot coming in from England who potentially thought something of himself he was able to just try and use me to the best way he could in terms of he realized early that I was someone who wanted to help and and we can all we can all kind of say that's fine mate but just remember remember who's in charge but he made me feel valued he made me feel special and he made me feel like I could help um and that's what I love doing he Lear you know that's that's the great thing about a leader you see the qualities and people and you use them um and we've all got our own little we've all got our own little role to play under his stewardship which is um which makes us a strong dressing room people rarely see the family or the family life behind the player but you've got a wife and a young family who've been with you on this journey you've touched on it already but how much have they enjoyed the the Celtic aspect and and you know have they been welcomed into this family where they perhaps felt that this was just a journey that you were going to take on your own no no never we team and uh that's the hardest bit for me to talk about to be honest happy but yeah we're happy we we feel welcome and special part of our Lives coming back to the present day Joe how will you feel tomorrow especially at full time when you get to go around the Celtic par pitch on a lap of Honor after picking up yet another lead Championship medal will you be thinking back to that young teenager at shruby Town allowing yourself a a moment of pride what you've achieved probably not no probably not because I know that we've got still work to do so it's I don't think I don't think I will reflect I don't think I will I think I'll just enjoy I want to enjoy being at at Celtic park with the people who've made you know my life so great for the last three years um I want to really enjoy that energy uh that buzz I want to enjoy the anticipation of what's coming the week after um and I just want to try and show as much gratitude as I can but I don't think it's going to be easy I really don't think it's easy it's not easy to communicate those sorts of things so um yeah breathe it in um obviously we want to put on a performance as well I think that's important um and then look we all know we're we're strapping up ready for the week after so we'll enjoy it the moment for the hard work that we've done but like I say I can't can't take myself away from the guy who just wants to play and wants to win um I think that will come in months probably years to come let's finally just mention that then the the Cup Final you've got to look forward to as you as you bring the cut down on your career hopefully with another medal but that will take care of itself so as we sit here before your final game in front of the fans at Celtic park is there anything you'd like to say to them um just thank you thank you uh I appreciate everything I appreciate all the kind words I appreciate the backing uh I appreciate the support in terms of wanting us to be better all the time that push that drive that no one accepting anything other than the best um and yeah just a lot of love a lot of love and appreciation and I hope um I hope this relationship doesn't end I want to continue it for as long as I possibly can [Music]

Channel: Celtic FC

Views: 87,281

Keywords: celtic, bhoys, ghirls, hoops, football, soccer, green, white

Id: aj7dz9K11DI

Length: 17min 43sec (1063 seconds)

Published: Fri May 17 2024