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Michael Hart (footballer)

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Michael Hart
Personal information
Date of birth (1980-02-10) 10 February 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth Bellshill, Scotland
Position(s) Right back
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 24 (0)
2012 St Johnstone 0 (0)
2012 Airdrie United 9 (0)
2013 Huntly 15 (0)
Total 247 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Michael Hart (born 10 February 1980) is a Scottish retired footballer who played as a right back for Aberdeen, Livingston, Preston North End, Hibernian, St Johnstone, Airdrie United and Huntly.

Career

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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.

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 2005–06 season due to a knee injury, featuring in only four matches. He came back into the team for the 2006–07 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.

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]

Hart returned to Scotland 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.[9]

Hart then signed for St Johnstone on a short-term contract until the end of the 2011–12 season.[10] He joined Airdrie United in July 2012, but left in November the same year to pursue a full-time career outwith football.[11][12]

Huntly signed Hart on 20 February 2013. But on 20 September 2013 Hart retired from football.[13]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[14][15]

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Club Season League National Cup League Cup Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Aberdeen 1996–97 Scottish Premier Division 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0
1997–98 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0
1998–99 SPL 13 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - 14 0
1999–00 3 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 - - 5 0
2000–01 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 0 0
Total 16 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 - - 19 0
Livingston (loan) 1999–00 Scottish First Division 3 0 0 0 0 0 - - - - 3 0
2000–01 22 0 0 0 0 0 - - 2 0 24 0
Livingston 2001–02 SPL 21 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 - - 25 0
2002–03 11 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 - - 13 0
Total 57 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 2 0 65 0
Aberdeen 2002–03 SPL 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - 9 0
2003–04 11 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 - - 14 0
2004–05 32 0 3 0 2 0 0 0 - - 37 0
2005–06 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - - 4 0
2006–07 34 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 - - 36 0
2007–08 18 0 0 0 2 0 6 0 - - 26 0
Total 107 0 8 0 5 0 6 0 - - 126 0
Preston North End 2007–08 Championship 2 0 0 0 0 0 - - - - 2 0
2008–09 6 0 0 0 2 0 - - - - 8 0
2009–10 11 0 1 0 3 0 - - - - 15 0
Total 19 0 1 0 5 0 - - - - 25 0
Hibernian 2010–11 SPL 18 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 - - 22 0
2011–12 6 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 - - 7 0
Total 24 0 2 0 1 0 2 0 - - 29 0
Airdrie United 2012–13 Scottish First Division 9 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 13 0
Total 9 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 13 0
Career total 232 0 15 0 16 0 10 0 4 0 277 0

References

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  1. ^ "Livingston make 17 signings". BBC Sport. 4 July 2001.
  2. ^ "Bank books stay closed". BBC Sport. 1 February 2003.
  3. ^ "Dons' Hart completes Preston move". BBC Sport. 31 January 2008. Retrieved 31 January 2008.
  4. ^ 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. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  5. ^ "Hibernian sign Michael Hart from Preston". BBC Sport. 8 July 2010. Retrieved 8 July 2010.
  6. ^ "Hart Targeting More Goals". Hibernian F.C. 22 July 2010. Retrieved 28 July 2010.
  7. ^ "Squad Injury Update". Hibernian F.C. 6 August 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
  8. ^ Hardie, David (20 August 2011). "Injury leaves Hibs' Hart to mull quitting". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Retrieved 20 August 2011.[permanent dead link‍]
  9. ^ "Akpo Sodje and Michael Hart leave Hibernian". BBC Sport. 31 January 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  10. ^ "St Johnstone sign Michael Hart as Carl Finnigan joins Dundee". BBC Sport. 21 February 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  11. ^ "SIGNING NEWS". airdriefc.com. Airdrie United FC. 27 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  12. ^ Paterson, Colin (26 July 2012). "Airdrie United plan to strengthen squad". Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  13. ^ http://www.ngrfoundation.co.uk/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=28131&Itemid=1 [dead link‍]
  14. ^ "Aberdeen Football Club Heritage Trust – Player Profile". afcheritage.org. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Michael Hart | Football Stats | Huntly | Season 2000/2001 | Soccer Base". Soccerbase. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
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