Joe Hart will bow out as a champion after helping Celtic win another Scottish Premiership title.
Celebrations were in full flow at Parkhead on Saturday after the Bhoys recorded a 3-2 win over St Mirren to register a pretty impressive 93 points.
There has been a lot of noise around Brendan Rodgers this season, but he has let his Celtic players do the talking on the field of play.
Joe Hart has played a huge part in that, including the wins over Rangers, with one more big finale coming up, even if some think it’s a huge mistake.
It’s the small matter of the Scottish Cup final at Hampden at the weekend and it will be Hart’s final game in professional football before he retires.
The 37-year-old, who earned 75 England caps and won numerous Premier League titles with Manchester City, has had a trophy-laden career and it could end in the most perfect of ways.
When the dust has settled, Hart will be remembered very fondly at Parkhead as one of the club’s greats, including winning the Treble under Ange Postecoglou.
During coverage of Celtic’s win over St Mirren, host Eilidh Barbour couldn’t help but aim a sly dig at Chris Sutton, in regards to Hart.
She asked Neil Lennon on Sky Sports (18/05/24 at 11:45 am) if Hart ‘might be the most-loved Englishman to play for Celtic’, with the legendary striker watching on.
Lennon couldn’t help but add that ‘I don’t know many others to tell you the truth’, to the laughter of the studio.
Of course, both are well-loved in Glasgow and the shot-stopper can rightfully call himself a Celtic legend against the man who helped dominate under the great, Martin O’Neill.
Joe Hart set to retire
“Hart gets to carry the trophy up Celtic Way, do you think he might be the most-loved Englishman to play for Celtic,” Barbour asked Lennon with Sutton watching on.
Lennon responded: “Oh, no question. I don’t know many others to tell you the truth.
“It’s pivotal (position to fill). I always think goalkeepers can win you titles. They can win you games. I have to say, in the second half of the season, Joe has been outstanding. He has really come to the fore when the club and the team have really needed him. Replacement wise? I don’t know what sort of profile they are looking for. Brendan (Rodgers) will want someone who is good with their feet. He does like to build from the back. Someone in their mid-to-late 20s. Someone for the next four or five years. They are going have to spend a bit of money on replacing a goalkeeper of that quality.”
Celtic’s search for a new goalkeeper
When Celtic initially brought in Hart, he was in his mid-30s and was sat on Tottenham’s bench after a number of years of struggle.
So, whilst some feel that the club need to bring in a younger face and someone for the long term, Hart has proved that it doesn’t have to be the case.
READ MORE: Chris Sutton hails Celtic’s ‘very smart’ transfer call amid title celebrations
As mentioned above, the new keeper needs to be very good with their feet and, ideally, you want them to have had some sort of success at the top level.
Recruitment has been a huge talking point this season. Fans know that the board have money to splash and now is the time to showcase that.
Celtic have shown they are dominant on the domestic scene. It’s now a case of taking the next step in the Champions League.
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