Joe Hart’s passionate love affair with Celtic is no secret—it’s practically a saga he has celebrated loudly and proudly since hanging up his gloves last season. In a gripping and heartfelt new interview with Australia’s Optus Sports, the former shot-stopper has shared the electrifying details of his first encounter with Ange Postecoglou, the man who reignited his career and reignited his soul.
Back in 2021, Hart’s footballing future hung by a thread after falling out of favor at Tottenham Hotspur. Retirement loomed like a dark cloud over his once-illustrious career. But then, fate intervened. A call came from a relatively unknown coach—Postecoglou, freshly crowned the new king of Parkhead.
“I had no idea who Ange was,” Hart admitted candidly, almost incredulously. “I didn’t know where he’d been or what he’d done. But something in me said, ‘Have this conversation. Feel him out.’ And from the very first moment, I was hooked. He had this aura—a calmness that could settle a storm, a vision that made you believe in magic. I was ready to walk through fire for him.”
Hart described their first chat as a meeting of minds—and hearts. “We spoke as fathers, not just as football men,” Hart revealed, his voice tinged with reverence. “I told him about my family, how much it meant to me for my young son to see his dad play, to see his dad as a warrior on the field. I told him I wasn’t just looking for a paycheck—I wanted to lead, inspire, represent. And Ange got it. He just got it.”
It wasn’t just a meeting of convenience; it was destiny. Hart recalled: “I said to him, ‘If you need a fighter with quality and fire left in his belly, I’m your man. If not, I’ll step aside.’ Ange didn’t hesitate. He told me, ‘Joe, I don’t need to see more. I already know you’re my guy.’ That honesty? That clarity? That’s Ange. He’s the best manager I’ve ever worked with. Period.”
Postecoglou’s brutally honest leadership style struck a chord with Hart. “He made it crystal clear from day one—he wasn’t there to be my best friend. But we had this unspoken bond. We helped each other become better, stronger, unstoppable. I owe him so much.”
The partnership wasn’t just about tactics or trophies—it was about playing “crazy football” and rekindling a career that had been on life support. “We created something special, something unforgettable,” Hart concluded, his voice thick with emotion. “Those years at Celtic? They weren’t just chapters in my career—they were the heart and soul of my story.”
