Joe Hart has opened up on the anxiety that he faced over Ange Postecoglou’s departure from Celtic.
Clinching the domestic treble by defeating Inverness Caley Thistle in the Scottish Cup Final was clouded almost immediately by news that the manager was off to join Spurs.
After a few years in which his career appeared to be frittering towards oblivion the one time England keeper had his enthusiasm reborn by a surprise move to Celtic in August 2021, in possibly one of the most significant transfers made by the new boss.
Vasilas Barkas and Scott Bain had been tried in the Champions League exit to Midtjylland, drastic action was required with Hart coming to the rescue after being demoted to third choice at Spurs.
Two incredible seasons yielded five trophies out of six, Hart thrived on the responsibility that he was given but then came the uncertainty of change at management level.
“When Brendan did come in to replace Ange I was really anxious” ?
Joe Hart provides some praise and insight on Brendan Rodgers return to Celtic ?
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Despite the circumstances of his exit to Leicester City in February 2019 most Celtic fans acknowledged that Rodgers was the best prospect to pick up the baton from Postecoglou who had turned the club around from the misery of the Lockdown season.
There were sticky moments, back-to-back defeats to Kilmarnock and Hearts last December seemed to knock morale for some time, ironically Hart’s announcement that he was retiring at the end of the season galvanised the team and support, no-one wanted their goalkeeper to head into the sunset as anything other than a success.
In a storming end to the season about the only black mark was Hart missing a penalty in the shoot out against Aberdeen in the semi-final of the Scottish Cup.
But that was the furthest thought from his mind as he returned to Hampden in May to sign off his playing career with the seventh winners medal from his Scottish swansong.
