Fans couldn't stop staring at Joe Hart's unusual tattoo before England's Euro 2024 opener against Serbia. Hart has previously explained the reason behind his bold ink. The ex-England goalkeeper retired from football at the end of the 2023/24 season and now works as a pundit for Match of the Day.
Ahead of England's Euro 2024 opener against Serbia, eagle-eyed fans noticed an unusual tattoo on the arm of Joe Hart . The former Three Lions shot-stopper was on BBC Sports' punditry team for the clash in Germany and his shirt revealed the rather unique ink on his arm. Hart finished his playing career at the end of the 2023/24 campaign, hanging up his gloves for good after winning the Scottish Premiership with Celtic.
Supporters may need to get used to the ex-Manchester City and West Ham United goalkeeper on their TV screens as he looks to forge a post-football career, having now been announced as one of the pundits to replace Ian Wright on Match of the Day . Working for BBC Sport during the aforementioned Serbia match, he spent the entirety of the match at pitchside, giving his thoughts and feelings on some players he previously lined up alongside for the national team and others he never got the privilege of sharing a dressing room with. While his insights were interesting, some couldn't get past the tattoo they could see.
Joe Hart's Bizarre Tattoo As seen in the above post, the ink in question looks strikingly similar to black tape around his arm and wrist. It's also evident that the look isn't to everyone's taste. But what is the reason behind the bold tattoo? Well, Hart has actually previously explained the thinking behind the decision.
Back in 2019, the 37-year-old shared images of the tattoo on his Instagram account with the caption: "You are the man @hanumantra thank you, this is the only time of year I could take this on so I appreciate you fitting me in and smashing it!! I got my armour on now...
let's see what's next. Not everyone's taste I understand that but this definitely represents me, and thank you for making it happen." While thanking Hanu Mantra, his tattoo artist, Hart explained he realised not everyone would like the look, but he felt the armour-style ink was fitting of his character.
As a goalkeeper, he was no stranger to getting stuck into the thick of the action and being in the wars at times, so the thinking is understandable. According to Hart’s tattoo artist , per Lancs Live, the design allows the goalkeeper to: "Feel empowered and protected as though a layer of tattoo armour is placed upon them, creating a modern-day warrior ready for today’s battles." David Seaman, Peter Shilton and Jordan Pickford are a few outstanding shot-stoppers that England has produced.
Joe Hart for England Caps 75 Goals Conceded 48 Clean Sheets 43 Yellow/Red Cards 1/0 Joe Hart as a Pundit After Football Giving the world of media a go for the first time properly at Euro 2024 , Hart has gone into the world of punditry after calling time on his playing career. Many ex-professionals turn to either this sort of work or move into coaching. It's yet to be seen what avenue the two-time Premier League winner will go down in the coming years.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Peter Shilton (125) is the only goalkeeper to have made more England appearances than Joe Hart (75). Speaking after his decision to step away from the beautiful game , the man who represented his country 75 times confirmed it was a difficult choice as he still feels physically capable, but his mind was made up (per Sky Sports): "I got to a point in my life where I was potentially on the way out and got another opportunity [at Celtic]. I don't want to push that luck, I want to finish strong, in a special place, in a special club.
That's just me - it's my time to move aside and let someone else have some fun. It's definitely not physical, I feel fine." With so much achieved in his career – having won league titles in England and Scotland – Hart could be well suited to the world of punditry.
Indeed, he is set to follow the likes of Gary Neville and Roy Keane in becoming a familiar face on TV screens over the coming years. After working for the BBC during the Euros, he has since landed a gig on Match of the Day. Along with fellow former Three Lions international Theo Walcott, and ex-Manchester City and Lioness captain Steph Houghton, he will help fill the void left by the departing Ian Wright.
All statistics in this article are courtesy of Transfermarkt ..
