Joe Hart was front and centre of Celtic’s trophy celebrations at Hampden.
The 34-year-old has been heavily involved in some of the most iconic achievements in English football over the last decade but lapped up the raw emotion of Celtic’ Hampden triumph.
Many players in his position would have been content to go through the motions, enjoying the pay-days without the pain and pressure with their days at the coal face just a fading memory.
At the start of August Hart rejected all that, flew in to Glasgow to sign for Celtic them onto the Czech Republic for a whirlwind debut to answer a goalkeeping SOS.
Instantly he was one of the boys, accepted into a brand new group of players to such an extent that he wore the captain’s armband when Callum McGregor was out injured earlier in the season.
Rejecting the option of bench warming at Spurs, Hart told the Daily Record:
This was my first chance to win a trophy for this great club and I had my family here. It was special, really special. I am very proud. I enjoyed the celebrations with the fans at the end.
During the game you need to show composure and stay calm. But I am one of them, I love football. I love playing, always have and always will. Growing up, I never thought I’d have the opportunities to do the things I am doing.
It would be criminal of me to be on this pitch and not enjoy it with the fans, when so many thousands would love to be there, too
Tell ‘em lad pic.twitter.com/BiI4hgbh8x
— dolla mike. (@NotoriousBAG_) December 19, 2021
Thousands loved Hart’s performance on Sunday, questions may be asked about his role in the Hibs goal but Kevin Nisbet and Ryan Porteous discovered that the keeper’s hunger for success is as strong as ever.
