Manchester City have named a training pitch after their former goalkeeper Joe Hart
Hart joined Burnley in the summer, finally bringing his 12-year association with City to an end after spending the previous two seasons out on loan at Torino and West Ham.
City have now revealed that a keeper training facility has been dedicated to Hart, unveiled alongside a mosaic showing him celebrating Sergio Aguero’s Premier League title-clinching goal in 2012.
Hart returns to the Etihad on Saturday afternoon with Burnley and is set to be presented with a lifetime season card in recognition of the 348 appearances he made for the club.
We have dedicated a goalkeeper training pitch at the CFA to Club legend Joe Hart in recognition of his 12-year association with the Club 💙 #mancity pic.twitter.com/VqxKOpmBfy
— Manchester City (@ManCity) October 19, 2018
“It is a lovely touch. It is a club that I think a lot of and I am very proud of what I have done here,” said Hart, who was a two-time Premier League winner while at the club.
“It will always be a part of me and I really appreciate the fact that I will always be a part of it.
“I have been a big part of the club, I have been a part of what has gone on recently, so it is nice to get that recognition and I am very proud.”
“It is truly fitting to mark Joe Hart’s outstanding contribution to Manchester City in such a visible way,” added City’s chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak.
“His Manchester City legacy is assured and it is hoped that this tribute will serve to inspire future generations of goalkeepers who train at the City Football Academy, dreaming of replicating his remarkable career.”
