Joe Hart explains to Chris Sutton why he is retiring now, despite requests for him to stay at Celtic.

Celtic custodian Joe Hart has been in good form recently, and he is enjoying the last stages of his professional career with the Bhoys.

He’s been so good in recent months that former Celtic striker Chris Sutton dedicated his Saturday morning newspaper column to the possibility of him sticking on.

The analyst wants Brendan Rodgers to try to persuade him to stay for another season despite the fact that he has announced his retirement following the next Scottish Cup final.

Sutton had the opportunity to interrogate the custodian at Celtic Park today as part of his Sky Sports duties, and he heard an honest response from the Bhoys hero about why now is the time for him to hang up his gloves.

Hart knew deep down that he would not be himself next year as he faced another difficult series of contests.

Joe Hart on his Celtic retirement.

🗣️ "It's a sad day, but it's the right time. I got this opportunity which I couldn't turn down. I don't want to push that luck, I want to finish strong."

Joe Hart gives his reasons for retiring now and the love he has for Celtic ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/fdvoisiKFf

— Sky Sports Scotland (@ScotlandSky) May 18, 2024

The custodian stated, “I got a point in my life when I was potentially on the way out and then I got another opportunity. I don’t want to push that luck. I just want to finish strong. I want to finish in this special place as part of this special club. I think it is my time to move aside and let someone else have some fun.

“It is definitely not physical, I feel fine. I just felt that this was my moment. I felt really uncomfortable knowing it and not telling the manager or the lads. I wanted to say it and I wanted everyone to understand why I was doing it.

“I told Stevie Woods after the St Mirren cup game and I went to tell him and I couldn’t. I was crying. He thought there was a family emergency or something. I managed to snivel out what I was doing. Obviously, he was shocked but he was very understanding. I appreciate the understanding of this place. It just felt like the right time.

“I am not at the peak of my powers but I am able to always be ready for the games. Previously, I wanted to be out there arguing it strikers and getting that banter. Getting chipped and getting angry. Now I get chipped and I just kind of say ‘well done’.

“I just know that next season I would be getting to games and I wouldn’t quite be right. I didn’t want to put Brendan under any of that pressure. I love him for the fact that he has appreciated that I told him what I wanted to do and I have been able to do it.”

Joe Hart gets his big moment.

It is tough to choose the right time to step down. Even the best players do not retire in a flash of glory. Hart has chosen his exquisitely. Today’s scenes at Celtic Park were unforgettable and will stay with the custodian for the rest of his life.

It’s better to depart now than to overstay your welcome. If he feels it’s time to stand down, it’s unquestionably the greatest option.

He’s been a tremendous Celtic player with over 150 games, and every supporter will remember his contributions over the last three years fondly. He is now regarded as an icon in Glasgow. Hart has insured that it will always be that way.

Joe Hart: “Celtic is a feeling. It will forever be in my heart.”

In other news, Joe Hart: “Celtic is a feeling. It will forever be in my heart.”