Latest news with #JoeHart
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Former Celtic star Joe Hart was my hero growing up, he'll help me bounce back from poor Scotland debut
LOOKED UP TO Former Celtic star Joe Hart was my hero growing up, he'll help me bounce back from poor Scotland debut SCOTLAND debut keeper Cieran Slicker will use former Celtic star Joe Hart as his inspiration to bounce back from his nightmare at Hampden. The Ipswich Town kid had a night to forget after he was an early sub for the injured Angus Gunn when he conceded three disappointing goals as Steve Clarke's side crashed to a woeful 3-1 home defeat to Iceland. 3 Cieran Slicker had a Scotland debut to forget Credit: PA 3 He's said Joe Hart's 'never give up' advice will inspire him Credit: Kenny Ramsay 3 The pair were at Manchester City together, though Slicker never hasn't made a full senior club appearance Credit: Reuters Slicker had played just nine minutes of senior football in his career, but was previously capped 17 times by Scotland Under 21s. He got off to a similarly rocky start after making a blunder in just his second cap for Scot Gemmill's side in a 1-0 defeat to Denmark at Tynecastle four years ago when a long range shot from Gustav Isaksen, who is now at Lazio, deceived him. And the former Manchester City keeper revealed then how he recovered from setbacks on the pitch. He said: "Joe Hart was my hero growing up. When I was younger I was a ballboy at City too so I used to watch him up close. "I tried picking up as much as I could. "Over the past few years, I have spoken to him quite a lot. I was lucky enough to be able to be in a position to speak to him. "Joe is a great guy and a great goalkeeper as well, with a great career behind him. "His advice to me was to try and play as many first team games as I could and to never give up. "The goal I lost against Denmark was a tough one and it cost us. It was all about forgetting about the goal for me. "Once it went in, it was gone and there was nothing I could do about it. Fans all spot Wright's reaction to Hart screaming in his face after Man City goal against Arsenal "I know for a keeper it's all about that one moment." And Slicker also recalled when Pep Guardiola handed him his dream debut for Manchester that was spoiled too. He came on as a half time sub for City in a pre-season game against Preston in 2022, but lasted just 11 minutes before he was knocked out after colliding with Preston's Tom Bayliss. He said: "I came on for Zack Steffen. A through ball came in and it was a 50-50 and I got knocked out. It took me about a week or two to recover, but I was fine after that. "At City, they have the best manager in the world, so I took on board what he said to me and I will try to use that for the rest of my career. "The keepers at City were the main influences for me, obviously. Like Ederson. He was great for me. Even just watching him, I learned so much. "Being able to have the ball at your feet is important in the modern-day game. You look at City and Ederson, who is the best in the world at it." Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
BBC News
2 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Hart says 'stars aligned' for Rebels head coach role
Former Great Britain player Joe Hart believes becoming head coach of Essex Rebels men's team is a "perfect match".The 31-year-old has taken charge after Ross Norfolk stood joined the National League Basketball Division One club last year following spells with Plymouth City Patriots and Newcastle Eagles."When I heard about the opportunity, it consumed my thoughts night and day. It's always something I've wanted to do," he told BBC Essex Sport."I'm aware there are very few opportunities in this country to step into a position like this. I'm from Southend so I've got an affiliation for the area and it kind of seemed like the stars are aligned, a perfect match." The men's team won promotion to Division One five years ago and finished sixth in 2024-25 before losing to Reading Rockets in the play-off quarter-finals."I would love for us to win something, I'd love us to be competing for the league and playing in finals," said Hart."Whether that happens or not leads back to my philosophy of if we're doing things the right way, I'll be content if we don't end up with everyone celebrating at the end of the season, but hopefully, it is a by-product."He continued: "I've always wanted to coach, throughout my playing career it's always been something I was drawn to. I don't know if I was necessarily ready to stop playing but when you get an opportunity to be part of a programme like this and take the lead on something, it definitely helped me take that step."The Rebels are based at the University of Essex, with the women's team competing in Super League Basketball. It is Hart's first head coach role, but he said: "In my second year at Plymouth, I had a torn ACL and because of that I couldn't play, but the club offered me a role as an assistant coach for the men's team - and for the entirety of my time at Plymouth, I coached their university programme and we subsequently had a Division Three side as well."In my last season, we set up an academy so I was coaching 16 to 18 year olds as well on a daily basis, so I've had a little bit of experience with men at pro level, a little bit more hands-on at university level and as well with the 18s."I am excited to oversee this programme now, there's a good balance of guys who are professional and guys still early in their development, which is a nice blend."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Three classic Aberdeen-Celtic Scottish Cup ties
With Saturday's final at Hampden fast approaching, BBC Scotland has flicked through the archives to look back on some classic Scottish Cup ties between Aberdeen and Celtic. Here are three from recent memory to whet your appetite for the weekend... Aberdeen 3-3 Celtic (5-6 pens) - Scottish Cup semi-final, April 2024 You only have to rewind a year to remind yourself of arguably the greatest cup encounter between these sides. Following an incredible six-goal thriller, Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart went from zero to hero after hitting the woodwork with what would have been a match-winning moment, before decisively saving Killian Phillips' spot-kick in a dramatic shootout. That drama was befitting of a classic match, with Aberdeen scoring two last-gasp equalisers. With interim boss Peter Leven in charge, the Dons took a surprise lead after two minutes through Bojan Miovski. Celtic fought back to go ahead when Nicolas Kuhn capitalised on Angus MacDonald's error before James Forrest curled in a second. Ester Sokler's 90th-minute header forced extra time, and MacDonald made up for his mishap to force penalties with a header of his own in minute 119 after Matt O'Riley rocketed Celtic 3-2 up. In the end, the Parkhead side prevailed on penalties to their 60th Scottish Cup final, where they defeated rivals Rangers back at Hampden. Celtic 2-1 Aberdeen - Scottish Cup final, May 2017 A sore memory for any Dons fan, but a magical day for anyone of a Celtic persuasion. With the 2017 final heading for extra time, the Glasgow side completed a domestic treble without losing a game when Tom Rogic fired in a stoppage-time winner in Brendan Rodgers' debut season in Scotland. A neat Jonny Hayes strike after nine minutes rewarded the Dons' impressive start, but Celtic were level within two minutes as Stuart Armstrong was able to pick out the far corner. Late Celtic pressure paid off in the dying seconds as Rogic fired low past goalkeeper Joe Lewis to spark wild scenes. The post-match celebrations will be remembered for defender Kieran Tierney unexpectedly reappearing to lift the trophy after suffering a facial injury in the first half. Tierney said on social media that the win was "worth a broken jaw". Celtic 1-2 Aberdeen - Scottish Cup last 16, February 2014 A positive one to end on for Dons fans, revisiting their team's comeback win at Celtic Park in 2014. Aberdeen had not won at Parkhead for six years and fell behind when Anthony Stokes netted a composed finish. But Russell Anderson's leveller and Peter Pawlett's winner gave Derek McInnes' side a shock victory. That win sent McInnes' men, who won the League Cup that season, into the quarters, but they were eliminated in the last four by St Johnstone.
BBC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Three classic Aberdeen-Celtic Scottish Cup ties
With Saturday's final at Hampden fast approaching, BBC Scotland has flicked through the archives to look back on some classic Scottish Cup ties between Aberdeen and are three from recent memory to whet your appetite for the weekend... Aberdeen 3-3 Celtic (5-6 pens) - Scottish Cup semi-final, April 2024 You only have to rewind a year to remind yourself of arguably the greatest cup encounter between these an incredible six-goal thriller, Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart went from zero to hero after hitting the woodwork with what would have been a match-winning moment, before decisively saving Killian Phillips' spot-kick in a dramatic drama was befitting of a classic match, with Aberdeen scoring two last-gasp interim boss Peter Leven in charge, the Dons took a surprise lead after two minutes through Bojan fought back to go ahead when Nicolas Kuhn capitalised on Angus MacDonald's error before James Forrest curled in a Sokler's 90th-minute header forced extra time, and MacDonald made up for his mishap to force penalties with a header of his own in minute 119 after Matt O'Riley rocketed Celtic 3-2 the end, the Parkhead side prevailed on penalties to their 60th Scottish Cup final, where they defeated rivals Rangers back at Hampden. Celtic 2-1 Aberdeen - Scottish Cup final, May 2017A sore memory for any Dons fan, but a magical day for anyone of a Celtic the 2017 final heading for extra time, the Glasgow side completed a domestic treble without losing a game when Tom Rogic fired in a stoppage-time winner in Brendan Rodgers' debut season in Scotland.A neat Jonny Hayes strike after nine minutes rewarded the Dons' impressive start, but Celtic were level within two minutes as Stuart Armstrong was able to pick out the far Celtic pressure paid off in the dying seconds as Rogic fired low past goalkeeper Joe Lewis to spark wild post-match celebrations will be remembered for defender Kieran Tierney unexpectedly reappearing to lift the trophy after suffering a facial injury in the first said on social media that the win was "worth a broken jaw". Celtic 1-2 Aberdeen - Scottish Cup last 16, February 2014A positive one to end on for Dons fans, revisiting their team's comeback win at Celtic Park in had not won at Parkhead for six years and fell behind when Anthony Stokes netted a composed Russell Anderson's leveller and Peter Pawlett's winner gave Derek McInnes' side a shock win sent McInnes' men, who won the League Cup that season, into the quarters, but they were eliminated in the last four by St Johnstone.
Daily Record
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Kasper Schmeichel breaks Celtic cover on bitter Denmark media row and his international future
The 38-year-old keeper has been the subject of some vile abuse by leading publications in his homeland Being a goalkeeper is a lonely job. There's nowhere to hide if you make a mistake. One blunder can be a real test of resilience. Even more so if you're the captain of your country. Luckily for Kasper Schmeichel, experience has taught him how to deal with intense scrutiny. The Denmark captain is on course to end an outstanding debut year for Celtic as a Treble-winner after picking up the huge gloves left behind by close pal Joe Hart. Yet while he has hardly put a foot wrong at Parkhead, the former Premier League champion has been hung out to dry back in his homeland. Schmeichel found himself at the centre of a storm after being lambasted for the goals conceded in March's Nations League playoff defeat in Portugal. Some of the stick crossed a line, with one pundit comparing his performance to a "child with polio" - prompting the Danish Players Union to get involved. Famous father and Manchester United legend Peter made his thoughts clear on the controversy last week by boycotting leading Danish publication Ekstra Bladet. But his son - who suffered a shoulder injury while playing in the game - insists it's been easy for him to block out the noise. The Celtic No1 said: "Do you know what? I was born in the 80s and I grew up in the 90s and I genuinely believe it is the best era to have been a child. "Because we had technology, but we didn't have internet. We didn't have phones, and we weren't attached to all this stuff. And I learned very early in my career just not to read about myself. "In all honesty, I haven't read a single word about it. Obviously, I've been made aware from different people, but I haven't read it. It is what it is. I play football, and football is the most popular sport in the world. "Everyone's going to have opinions. And do you know what? That's great. It's great, because football is a game of opinions. There's no right, there's no wrong. People are going to have opinions that are positive about you. "They're going to have negative opinions about you. I think I take advice and I take praise and criticism from the people who are closest to me. The people that I would go to advice for are the ones whose opinions I would ask. "So, for me, I live in this beautiful world where I don't have to read things about myself, and I don't. It actually makes life a lot easier. "The only people's opinions you should care about are your coaches, your teammates, your family, your friends, the people around you that know you, know your character, know the standards that you have. "If you're falling below those standards, and the people around you that you respect and listen to are telling you that, that's the opinions that you should really care about. "Because, like I say, people are entitled to their opinions, and it's part of football, it's part of the game. That's why football is the most popular sport in the world, it's because people talk about it. "It's talked about everywhere. And I'm part of this game, and I love this game, and I have opinions about football as well, doesn't mean they're right. "But I can choose what I do. I can choose whether I want to take all the information in, or I can also choose not to. I grew up in an era where that didn't exist, and I'm so thankful for that." Capped 113 times, Schmeichel has no plans to hang up the gloves for Denmark. For as long as he's playing, the 38-year-old will always be available for his country. He said: "I love playing for them. When I was growing up, that was the dream. When I was a kid and I was visualising in the garden, I was visualising the stadium, the shirt I was wearing was the Denmark shirt. "So, to play for your country, to have played as many games as I have, to have captained my country, that, for me, is the ultimate."It's the absolute ultimate dream, it's the ultimate thing that you can do as a footballer. So, to still have the opportunity, still have the ability, the drive, the love to do it, I wouldn't give that up. Definitely not." After a frustrating six-week injury layoff, Schmeichel is relieved to be back between the goalposts again - just as the trophies are being handed out. He said: "It's very nice to be back. It's been a weird one because obviously I've been out on the pitch and I've been training for a long time. "But with any fracture, there's not much you can do to speed it up. So we just had to give it time, be patient and just wait for the all clear from the doctors to go back and start diving around again. "Before you get the final diagnosis of what happened, then you're always worried that that could have been the season. For me, it was always a matter of maintaining a positive mindset and once it was confirmed that it was a fracture, then there's time for it to heal. "Now I've just got to make sure I'm doing all the other stuff, getting all the strength and flexibility back in it. The medical staff were great. They worked me very hard and it feels great now."
