Joe Hart has revealed he wants to join the GREEN BRIGADE after being blown away by his special Celtic send-off.
Hart, 37, savoured a fairytale ending to his extraordinary career as the England veteran helped Celts to a league and Scottish Cup double. The ex-Manchester City hero hung up his gloves after a trophy-laden three years in Glasgow and was taken aback by the adulation he received from the Parkhead faithful during his final months as a footballer.
Emotional Hart choked up when the Hoops ultras unveiled a giant image of the goalkeeper with the words “Super Joe” on trophy day, while 60,000 fans chanted his name as he bowed out of Celtic Park with three titles, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups.
“I’d already got more than I ever could have asked for in terms of treatment, kind words and how my family were treated. Then I came out for the second-half and I love that corner, The Green Brigade. The energy that comes from that corner. That’s me. I’d happily be in there and I will be in there at one point in my life, the throb, the passion for the club.”
Asked how he felt when he clocked the giant banner tribute, he said: “Mad. It scared me a little bit. I’m not a guy who is scared, either. I always think, why not, let’s go. It just made me feel there are a lot of very good things happening. I was scared, but also feeling great at the same time.
“We had trophy lift, families on the pitch, that club celebrates properly. In the last 13 years, won 12 leagues and still every single trophy is celebrated like it is everything and I love that about the place. That was a special day that will live with me forever and ever.”
Hart’s mind was set in February when he announced to the world that he would be retiring at the end of the campaign. But the iconic keeper admits he had a change of heart when the club’s media department pitched a special night of recognition in honour of his 20-year career.
