Joe Hart Exclusive Interview - 22/06/09

Joe Hart Exclusive Interview - 22/06/09

   

     
     
      The SoccerBible grabbed an exclusive interview with England Under-21 and Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart.
     
The highly rated keeper is currently away on international duty at the Under-21 European Championships, and is an integral part of the England set-up. SoccerBible managed to get a few words with Joe to get his thoughts on himself, the latest football equipment and the European Championships, as well as offering some great advice to all budding professional footballers, goalkeepers and England internationals...    

   

      SoccerBible: Joe, when did you start playing football, and did you always want to be a goalkeeper?
      Joe Hart: I started around 8 or 9 years old and like any kid just wanted play football, whack a ball, get dirty and score goals - I wasn t too bothered about where I played.    

   

      SB: When did you start playing in goal on a regular basis?
      JH: I started when I was about 11 in goal. I played for five different teams including Shrewsbury Town, I also played in Sunday league and at school.    

   

      SB: Who was your biggest influence growing up?
      JH: My family, I know everyone says it but they definitely were for me.    

   

      SB: Were they responsible for getting you to where you are now?
      JH: No, not at all. They just respected what I wanted to do football wise and sports wise. I played everything, but they didn t push me in any kind of direction. They just let me make the decisions.    

   

      SB: You say you played other sports, what else did you play apart from football?
      JH: School wise I did everything. But I played cricket to quite a good standard. When I was 16 it was either football or cricket and I chose football and I ve done alright.    

   

      SB: How do you prepare for a big game? Have you got any tips on warming up?
      JH: I do exactly the same for every game whether it s a friendly down the local park or a huge game. Just keep it quite simple and do a normal routine and get on with it.    

   

      SB: Are you superstitious or do you have any rituals before a game?
      JH: No, none at all.
     
   

   

                                             

SB: What techniques do you employ to keep focussed for 90 minutes?               JH: I try and keep in contact with the back three or four as much as possible. I look at situations and try and work out what s happening next.                             SB: In terms of goal keeping equipment, how important is it to wear the right gloves?               JH: It s about everything. I think you need to visually like them to start with and obviously comfort is a really important part of it, but obviously they need to do a job so a combo is key. You need them to feel good to play well.                                       SB: How long do you usually use a pair of gloves for?                                       JH: I train in the pair of gloves I m going to use. They usually get battered but I tend to use a pair of gloves for about three or four games. But if I m not happy with them I ll change them.                                       SB: What do you think of the new gloves you have at the moment?               JH: I really like them. I ve been pushing for this kind of simple design. Really plain ones with the latex on the front, that s why I really like them.

   

      SB: Since you ve started playing how has boot technology influenced your game?
      JH: They ve changed an awful lot. I m a fairly simple person, I just put the boots on and play. Obviously they ve become a lot more comfortable and based around my game. I appreciate and notice the changes but I generally just put them on and play.
     
      SB: What are the main features that you look for in a boot?
      JH: I think they need to look nice. I think that s a huge thing, especially the way things are going in the football market today. They need to feel nice, I like them to be really tight and strong.    

   

      SB: What do you think of the current Speciali?
      JH: Yeah, I m really happy with them. I think everyone can relate to them, older people as well as younger people, because they re obviously classic boots. They re very good-looking and very comfortable to play in.    

   

      SB: Do you wear them for club games as well?
      JH: Yes I would, but they weren t out until the end of the season so playing recently for England is the first time I ve worn them.    

   

      SB: Did you see the white one s John Terry was wearing for the kit launch?
      JH: Yep, I wore them for the U21 game at the time and they re really nice.    

   

      SB: Do you have any customisation on the boots?
      JH: Just JH on my club boots, but for the Europeans we ve got a little England flag on the boots.    

   

      SB: What are you career highlights so far?
      JH: There s been a few. I ve enjoyed everything I ve done. Obviously my England debut was huge for me. But everything I ve done with Man City and the U21 has been really special to.    

   

      SB: Who do you consider to be your toughest opponent?
      JH: That s a tough one, but we lost 6-0 to Chelsea once, so I d have to say them.    

   

      SB: Looking at the U21 s do think there s a chance that England can go on and win this time round?
      JH: Yeah, we ve got a great squad. I think we ve got as good a chance as anyone to win it. As long as we all perform I think we ll be there or there abouts but I don t think anybody is putting pressure on us to win it, but this is obviously our aim. We ll have to wait and see.    

   

      SB: Are there any particular teams you re looking forward to facing when you get out there?
      JH: I think every team is strong. I couldn t highlight any of them. We ve got Finland, Spain and Germany in the qualifiers, so at this stage we can t afford to look past them because it s going to be really tough. But we just need to relish it and hopefully we can prove ourselves against some of the best young players in the world.
     
      The SoccerBible wishes Joe and the rest of the England Under-21 side all the best at the European Championships.