Michael Hart (footballer)
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 February 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Bellshill, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Right back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | St. Johnstone | ||
| Number | TBA | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1997–2001 | Aberdeen | 16 | (0) |
| 2000 | → Livingston (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | → Livingston (loan) | 22 | (0) |
| 2001–2003 | Livingston | 32 | (0) |
| 2003–2008 | Aberdeen | 107 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Preston North End | 19 | (0) |
| 2010–2012 | Hibernian | 23 | (0) |
| 2012- | St. Johnstone | 0 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14 January 2012. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Michael Hart (born 10 February 1980 in Bellshill) is a Scottish footballer. During his career, Hart has played for Aberdeen, Livingston, Preston North End and Hibernian.
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[edit] Club career
[edit] Aberdeen and Livingston
Hart came through the ranks at Aberdeen and made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Dunfermline Athletic in 1998. He made a total of 19 first team appearances before moving on to Livingston on loan in 2000. His move to Livingston was made permanent in July 2001[1] and he helped them to a third place finish in their first season in the SPL, which gave them qualification for the 2002–03 UEFA Cup.
[edit] Return to Aberdeen
Hart returned to Aberdeen in February 2003[2] and, after a shaky start, established himself as a fleet-footed, quick tackling right back. He missed most of the 2005–2006 season due to a knee injury, featuring in only four matches, but came back into the team for the 2006–2007 season and featured in almost every game, helping the club to a third place finish in the league. In July 2007, Hart was involved in a car crash whilst on tour with Aberdeen in Egypt along with team-mate Jamie Smith. Neither player was seriously hurt.
[edit] Preston North End
In January 2008, Hart signed a pre-contract agreement with Preston North End and was expected to move to Deepdale at the end of the season. However, on 31 January, Preston had an offer thought to be £100,000 accepted for the right-back.[3] Hart then suffered from a succession of injuries, making only 25 appearances for Preston in over two years with the club.[4] Preston manager Darren Ferguson listed Hart for transfer in May 2010.[4]
[edit] Hibernian
Hart returned to the SPL in July 2010, with Hibernian, after his contract with Preston was cancelled.[5] Hart's preferred position of right back had been a significant problem for Hibs during the previous season.[4] He had been a target for Hibs manager John Hughes, who had been unable to sign him previously for "different reasons".[4] Shortly after signing, Hart scored his first goal for 12 years and his first ever in club football, in a friendly against ADO Den Haag.[6]
Hart suffered a serious groin injury in a friendly match against Sunderland in August 2011.[7][8] He made a handful of appearances for Hibs in the 2011–12 season, before he was released from his contract by mutual consent on 31 January 2012.
[edit] St Johnstone
On 21 February 2012, Hart joined St. Johnstone on a free transfer.
[edit] References
- ^ "Livingston make 17 signings". BBC Sport. 4 July 2001. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/l/livingston/1421309.stm.
- ^ "Bank books stay closed". BBC Sport (BBC). 1 February 2003. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/2716445.stm.
- ^ "Dons' Hart completes Preston move". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/p/preston/7199979.stm. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
- ^ a b c d "I didn't need to be sold on move to Hibs, says new boy Michael Hart". Daily Record. 8 July 2010. http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/07/08/i-didn-t-need-to-be-sold-on-move-to-hibs-says-new-boy-michael-hart-86908-22397859/. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ "Hibernian sign Michael Hart from Preston". BBC Sport. BBC. 8 July 2010. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/8800749.stm. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
- ^ "Hart Targeting More Goals". Hibernian F.C.. 22 July 2010. http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20100722/hart-targeting-more-goals_2262950_2098728. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
- ^ "Squad Injury Update". Hibernian F.C.. 6 August 2011. http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/20110806/squad-injury-update_2262950_2412245. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ Hardie, David (20 August 2011). "Injury leaves Hibs' Hart to mull quitting". Edinburgh Evening News (Johnston Press). http://www.scotsman.com/hibernianfc/Injury-leaves-Hibs39-Hart-to.6822096.jp. Retrieved 20 August 2011.
[edit] External links
- Michael Hart player profile at pnefc.net
- Michael Hart career stats at Soccerbase
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- 1980 births
- Living people
- Sportspeople from Bellshill
- Scottish footballers
- Association football defenders
- Aberdeen F.C. players
- Livingston F.C. players
- Preston North End F.C. players
- Hibernian F.C. players
- Scottish Premier League players
- Scottish Football League players
- The Football League players
- People educated at Holy Cross High School (South Lanarkshire)
- St. Johnstone F.C. players
