Michael Hart (footballer)
Scottish footballer
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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.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 February 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Bellshill, Scotland | ||
| Position | 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 | |||
Career
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
| 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 | ||
