Joe Hart has spoken out about his time at City and how he wants to emulate other English legends, after racking up his 300th appearance for The Blues at the end of the season just gone. In 12 months, Joe Hart will reach a decade at City, and unlike Dedryck Boyata – who joined at a similar time to the goalkeeper – the Englishman is much happier with his spell at the club.
Speaking after City’s tour of North America, the 28-year-old said “what Lampard and Gerrard have done is amazing. I strive for that too.”
“They are inspirational. It’s so hard to do what they have done – to get in to a top team when you are very young and stay there.”
He also spoke about the milestone he recently reached with the Blues, reaffirming his commitment in the process: “I am really proud to have played 300 games for this club and I want to stay for as long as they want me.”
There’s been two takeovers of the club since Hart signed his first deal with City all the way back in 2006, and the England number 1 talked about what it was like then too, saying “It was a different club then, but still an absolutely huge move for me.”
“When I came here from Shrewsbury, I didn’t know how it was going to play out but I was open-minded. The manager Stuart Pearce and Tim Flowers were great to me.”
“I was on the bench at first and Nicky Weaver was playing. I managed to nick a game but after that, then City looked after me and sent me out on loan to places I could play. I just kept smashing on the door to get into the first team.”
“Man City didn’t need to sign me or believe in me, so there must have been something there that they saw. I wasn’t aware of it at the time – whatever talent I did possess – but I knew they were going to give me a chance.”
“I was never going to turn it down.”
Hart took over as City’s number one goalkeeper at the start of the 2010-11, taking the place of Irishman Shay Given in the City side, at a time when there was a lot of debate whether it would be him or former Newcastle man Given. Mancini chose him, and he’s remained first choice ever since, apart from that spell last season when Pantilimon took over for a little while.
However, temporarily losing his place to Costel Pantilimon eventually did wonders for his form, and he’s been one of City’s biggest players this season. Many will be hoping he’s one of their biggest players for years to come.
