Football
ESPN staff 5y

Joe Hart has Man City training pitch named in his honour

As of Friday, the goalkeeper training pitch at the Manchester City Football Academy will be known as the "Joe Hart pitch".

And just as the club did for Yaya Toure, City will mark the occasion by also unveiling a special custom mosaic of Hart on a plinth next to the pitch. 

What is more, chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak will join the 31-year-old and his family after City's game against Hart's Burnley on Saturday to present him with a replica of the mosaic and a lifetime season ticket.

Hart represented City for 12 years and played an important role in two Premier League title victories, as well as an FA Cup triumph.

The stopper spent the majority of the last two years of his stint out on loan -- at Torino and West Ham respectively -- before finally bringing his tenure to an end last summer with a permanent move to Turf Moor.

Hart is not alone when it comes to ex-City employers having things named in honour of their footballing achievements.

Recently, Jesus Navas received a similar dedication from boyhood club Sevilla, who rechristened their training pitch as a mark of gratitude toward the nifty winger.

Elsewhere, Manuel Pellegrini was in attendance when a roundabout in Malaga was dedicated to him in honour of his three successful seasons in charge of the city's team.

It really does not get much more lavish than that!

^ Back to Top ^