Tearful Joe Hart on love for Celtic, his ‘special’ teammate and why he’ll never sell the club to anyone

Joe Hart has bid an emotional farewell to Celtic supporters in a lengthy - and teary - interview with the club's TV channel.

The goalkeeper has been among the standouts for the club this season and was a close-run contender for the internal Player of the Year award that was eventually won by Matt O'Riley. It comes as he prepares to hang up his gloves after the Scottish Cup Final following three years in Glasgow.

The goalkeeper's relationship with the fans and the city has only flourished in recent times and, at 36, he admits he's found a place he'll always love as a supporter even after his stint as a player is over.

"If you were to look at the start of the relationship it's how all relationships start, even the special ones," Hart began. "You've still got to get to know each other, trust each other. Where we are now it'll be forever in my heart this place, I absolutely love it and I can't even put into words how proud I am to have played and represented it and be welcomed.

"My young, impressionable family, the way they've been made to feel is really special and I'll be forever grateful and forever a supporter."

Hart arrived in 2021 begging for a club to call his own after a hard time at Tottenham and in the Premier League. He found that in the Hoops under Ange Postecoglou initially and then Brendan Rodgers.

The former England international, however, won't ever feel the need to sell potential signings to Parkhead as he insists he's "protective" of the reputation.

And he believes it's an experience for players to enjoy should they consider a move.

"I don't (want to sell the club), I'm very protective over that. I don't want to sell this place, I don't have to. Because you don't have to. You either want to come and experience it and feel it, and realise why people say the things they do, or if you don't, that's fine. Live your own life, do your own thing, have your own feelings. I don't even think I could do it justice, I think the smile on my face when the place gets mentioned, I'll light up. The smile on my family's face.

"I've got a close-knit family and friends group who have been everywhere with me in football, experienced everything I have and every single one of them that's come up here has had their head blown off! I'm grateful and proud of that but I don't think you need to fight for people to understand who don't. It's for people to come and experience, it's a feeling, not words, not examples. And you either feel it or you don't."

Hart has had countless teammates and goalie coaches across his trophy-laden career but he reserved special praise for the likes of Stevie Woods and Scott Bain at Celtic.

"Firstly, Stevie Woods has been absolutely unbelievable for me. I can't speak highly enough of him as a coach or as a person, he's understood me, helped me no end. I've learned so many different things since I've been playing football up here in terms of styles and how to go about learning how to play because you're always learning no matter what age you are. Hopefully I'll continue to do that. He's spoke my language, trusted me. I put a lot of trust in him and what a great relationship to have, always live strong in my memory and experiences and it's a relationship I'll draw on. I'm sure we'll speak in the future because I wanna help as much as he wants to help the club.

"Ultimately he has to have a relationship with his goalkeeper but it's always nice when that relationship that's required turns into something special and the trust and belief in each other is there. He's backed me no end and I can't thank him enough for that.

"One absolute certain continuously in my life has been Scott Bain. Love him. He gives me a hard time, he really does. Sharp-witted man, a really good goalkeeper as well and someone who probably doesn't get the credit he deserves but in terms of supporting me the whole way through he's been exceptional. He's had my back, I've had his, we've worked together with the team and we've got the results. That's special, you need that camaraderie, big Benj (Siegrist) coming in as well. There's no getting away from it, it's been difficult for him, but he's been exceptional as a person. I enjoyed playing against him and I knew once he became a teammate, we all are rivals for the jersey but at the same time we've got a common goal. A lot of understanding towards each other and you need that in life. I look forward seeing his career continue. We all want what's best for each other and that's no different with Benj.

"Even Barky (Vasilis Barkas) last year, tough for him, he's found his place and I'm happy for him. Football's not always down to ability at certain points, it's about what works and what fits in your career, then getting to work with Tobi who's away in Austria doing his thing, a prospect. Josh Clarke who's been a breath of fresh air. Exceptional, I look forward to following his progress."