JOE HART emulated Celtic legend Kenny Dalglish as he enjoyed his latest silverware success since arriving in a cut-price £1million switch from Spurs in August 2021.
The 36-year-old 75 times-capped England international keeper has now completed a domestic clean sweep of all three honours on both sides of the border.
Hart piled up the medals during his years at Manchester City – as Dalglish did at Liverpool after leaving Parkhead – and the shotstopper has continued the happy trend since crossing the border.
There was a near miss in his debut campaign where he had to be content with the Premiership title and the League Cup.
YOU’LL NEVER WALK ALONE…Joe Hart with the backing of the Celtic support at Hampden during the Scottish Cup Final triumph.
The Scottish Cup was the one that got away, but he nailed that in the 3-1 victory over Inverness Caley Thistle at Hampden yesterday.
That completed the club’s world record of eight trebles for Ange Postecoglou’s side and the veteran netminder was overjoyed to play his part.
Hart said: “It’s a great achievement, there’s a lot of effort that’s gone into it and it’s a great feeling.
“You go through football working hard, putting your body on the line, putting everything on the line and loving it, but not many players get the special rewards.
“That’s five trophies in two seasons, which is a great effort. I’m really proud to be part of that and we’re really lucky to do that.”
THE GLORY GAME…Joe Hart joins in the celebrations while Callum McGregor holds aloft the Scottish Cup as Celtic clinch an eighth treble.
Reflecting on the performance against the gallant Highlanders, Hart, speaking to Celtic TV, continued: “We did okay. We would have loved to have gone out there and played slick football, but credit to Inverness, they put up a great fight.
“However, we did what we had to do to win and lift the trophy. We’re proud of what we’ve done, but once you get a taste for something you just want more.
“You want the season to start again and go again, and as soon as we’re back in, we’re going to be chasing all three again and we’ve obviously got Europe.
“So that’s the relentlessness, that’s the level we’re at and what is expected of us and it feels great to perform and produce, but as the saying goes, we go again.”
Looking at his continued success, Hart added: “It means everything to me. It’s amazing for my close network – my friends and my family, who’ve been with me the whole way.
FOLLOW THE LEADER…Joe Hart and skipper Callum McGregor take the Scottish Cup on walkabout at Hampden after the presentation ceremony.
“I was lucky enough to experience what it felt like to be top of the world and winning and competing and then I obviously had an inbetween time where that feeling wasn’t necessarily there.
“But the hard work was still there and the same people stayed close and dedicated to what we were doing.
“I stayed calm because there are very few players who get to win every single year, so to get it back and be up here playing in front of huge crowds with medals round our necks – I say ‘our’ because I represent a lot of people as well as the people at Celtic, so it’s a good feeling.
“I stood there trying to take it in when You’ll Never Walk Alone was being sung. It’s hard to find the words and to really show the appreciation, but I know it’s not going to happen forever.
“I’m not going to be inside the white lines forever, so it just makes me happy, it just makes me smile, and I just thought – what a moment, what a privilege – and it’s special.
“The medals are great, the awards are great, but having learned what I’ve learned from being in football, and at my age, is that there’s more to it and it’s just a really, really special feeling.”
