I didn’t expect anything- Watch Joe Hart open up on his emotional Celtic farewell

A month after leaving Celtic Joe Hart is still emotional about his long good-bye.

Back in February the goalkeeper announced that he would be retiring at the end of the season after a three year stint in Glasgow.

At that stage of the season Celtic had lost top spot in the SPFL, form was patchy with points dropped away to Aberdeen and at home to Kilmarnock wiping out what was once an eight point lead.

It could have petered out in disappointment for the former England keeper but in spring time Celtic were galvanised by the return of a few key players to power through to a league and cup double that very few fans was predicting in February or March.

It all made for a fantastic finale to Hart’s career, so much so that many felt he should have been sweet talked into signing a new contract.

The player resisted that pressure, excelled in his final matches as a pro with two Glasgow Derby victories in his last four appearances creating the perfect departure.

I didn’t expect anything, I really didn’t. I’d already got more than I ever could’ve asked for in terms of treatment, kind words and how my family were treated.

I came out for the second half – I loved that corner, the Green Brigade – I loved this. The energy that comes from that corner. They were at every away game.

They bounce, the energy, the songs, that’s me. I’d happily be in there and I will be in there at one point in my life. The throb, the songs, the passion for the club.

I came out second half. I caught it out the corner of my eye, it must have already been up, I was trying to compute what was going on. I really struggled to compute what was going on – is that me? That’s me. They had a song they sang and then I had to flip out of it.

I thought I’m trying to be professional here but I’ve got to appreciate this as the guy we talked about previously and I did. I just took it all in and I just had to clip myself in the jaw a couple of times, ‘right I’ve got a job to do.’

And then I kind of took myself back into it but then we had the trophy lift and families on the pitch and that club celebrates properly.

In the last 13 years, won 12 leagues and still every single trophy is celebrated like it’s everything. I love that about the place. That was a special day. A day that will live with me forever and ever and ever, and everyone involved.

With 390,000 subscribers the High Performance podcast reaches way beyond the traditional Celtic support.

Celtic have yet to make a move to sign Hart’s successor, watching his recollections of three incredible years in Glasgow should act as a big incentive to whoever is chosen to take over with the first pre-season friendlies just a few weeks away.