10 Years Ago Today, Joe Hart Said Goodbye to Manchester City
10 years ago today, Joe Hart made his final appearance for Manchester City.
It was the end of an era for a goalkeeper who played a huge role in transforming City from ambitious challengers into Premier League champions.
Hart’s final game came on 24 August 2016, when Manchester City faced Steaua Bucharest in the second leg of their Champions League play-off. With City already holding a commanding advantage from the first leg, Hart was given the captain’s armband and kept a clean sheet in what became an emotional farewell at the Etihad.
🔵 348 appearances. 137 clean sheets.
Hart joined Manchester City from Shrewsbury Town in 2006 for just £600,000.
Over the next decade, he made 348 appearances for the club and recorded 137 clean sheets numbers that cemented his place among City’s greatest goalkeepers.
But Hart’s legacy wasn’t just about statistics.
He was between the posts for some of the most important moments in modern Manchester City history.
🏆 A trophy-winning goalkeeper
Hart won five major honours with City:
🏆 Premier League — 2011/12
🏆 FA Cup — 2010/11
🏆 Premier League — 2013/14
🏆 League Cup — 2013/14
🏆 League Cup — 2015/16
He also won the Premier League Golden Glove four times, while being selected in the PFA Team of the Year twice.
His greatest Premier League moment arguably came in 2011/12, when City finally ended their 44-year wait for the English top-flight title. Hart was an ever-present throughout that campaign as City conceded just 29 league goals.
And who could forget that unforgettable night against QPR?
As Sergio Agüero scored the title-winning goal in stoppage time, Hart’s celebrations became part of one of the most iconic moments in Premier League history.
A City legend
Hart’s departure in 2016 was emotional because he represented more than just a goalkeeper.
He was there before City became a global superpower.
He experienced the transition.
He won trophies.
He made huge saves.
And he helped establish the standards that would later become synonymous with Manchester City.
Ten years later, the numbers still tell the story:
348 appearances.
137 clean sheets.
5 major trophies.
4 Golden Gloves.
2 PFA Team of the Year selections.
Joe Hart wasn’t simply Manchester City’s goalkeeper.
He was part of the beginning of the modern Manchester City era.
And for many City fans, he’ll always be remembered as a true Blue. 💙
