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| Version | User | Scope of changes |
|---|---|---|
| May 16 2008, 6:20 PM EDT (current) | auldbhoy | |
| May 4 2008, 10:54 AM EDT | auldbhoy |
Changes
Key: Additions Deletions
| Real name | John Hartson |
| Height | 6.01 |
| Weight | 14.06 |
| Date of birth | 05-04-1975 |
| Place of birth | Swansea |
| Position | Forward |
| Nationality | Wales |
| International Caps | 52 |
| International Goals | 15 |
Summary
Born on the 5th of April 1975 in Swansea, WalesOn the same day as O'Neill made Steve Guppy and Momo Sylla Celtic players in the summer of 2001, John Hartson was bought for a fee of £6M from Coventry City [BBC]
The signing came nearly a year after failing a medical with Rangers [BBC]
Hartson retired from international football in 2006, having score 14 goals in 49 appearances for Wales
In June 2006, John signed for West Brom for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £500k. [BBC
]Previous Clubs
1992-1995 Luton1995-1997 Arsenal, £2.5m
1997-1999 West Ham £3.3m
1999-2001 Wimbledon £7.5m
2001-2001 Coventry Undisclosed [BBC
]2001-2006 Celtic £6m [BBC]
Pictures
Review
John Hartson’s (“Big Bad John”/”BBJ”) first stint in Glasgow was brief. He came to Glasgow to have a medical only to be turned down by Rangers for a transfer on having failed the check-up! A year or two later, Martin O’Neil decided to take a punt on the big Welshman with many guffawing and baffled by his choice.
When you look at John Hartson it is hard to envisage that he was actually one of the team and not some bloke off the terracing. His physique was more akin to a pie-eater’s, whilst his penchant for cigarettes and alcohol was well known and publicised. A complete contrast to his team-mate Larsson in his appearance and preparation yet he was still taken to heart by the Celtic support as affectionately as the King of Kings himself. Possibly his failings are what made him a hero to many!
Before he even came to Celtic, he already had a bit of a wild reputation, having been caught on camera by the press kicking a team-mate in the mouth at training. Taking in that the petty little Eyal Berkovic was the victim (sic!), there were likely few if any sympathisers at Celtic (in either the support or management).
Truth is that many were less than enamoured at Hartson's arrival after he signed, wondering why we’d spent so much on him (£6m) when he was expected to play second fiddle behind both Sutton and Larsson. To the surprise of many from the off he actually worked hard for his place and more than earned his right to be there. Goals galore were to the fore, and he blended in well with Larsson and Sutton which was no easy feat trying to keep up with the super duo. As with everyone else, he was in awe of Henrik, but complements for Hartson were also high in regard for him as well.
The highlights of his time at Celtic would for each of them be enough for any player, such as scoring against Barcelona at the Camp Nou in the Champions League to earn us a draw and more importantly scoring a belter of a goal against Liverpool away from outside the box in a two nil win in the Road to Seville (UEFA Cup).
Sadly though injuries hampered him and what could have been the highlight of his career by playing in the UEFA Cup was curtailed by required back surgery.
He recovered, and in Season 2004/05, his season was capped by being named both the Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year and the Scottish PFA’s Player of the Year (although he shared the latter bizarrely with Rangers’ Fernando Ricksen (the bawbags!)).
Off the field though he remained a much colourful character, with smoking and drinking to the fore, sadly, with his weight a constant bone of contention for many. Possibly the most highlighted incidents was a night out in Ireland at a CSC where he and then fellow team mate Stephen Pearson were caught on a mobile phone video amongst a crowd singing tunes with the ‘Ra boy “add-ons”. He was absolved of it but you can guess the furore that surrounded this even though he was never seen or heard singing anything offensive.
On his departure, he described the fans as being “his rock”! Great as that sounds, at the end of MoN’s last season, a season in which we lost the league to Rangers in the last game, the truth is that most of the calls were not for him to be canonized but more “GTF!” with much blame put at his feet. He was unfit and slower than at any point beforehand and was a bit of an easy target. However, should be put into context for what had happened at the end of that season, and in any case we shouldn’t let any of this take away from what he had been part of and achieved with us before. A great player and character who achieved more than I’m sure even he thought was possible.
Bizarrely in an interview in Feb 2008, John Hartson claimed that Rangers tried to get him to goto Ibrox after he'd finished with Celtic! Don’t know how serious that move was or not but its funny all the same. Anyhow, he’s always welcome back to Celtic Park and will remembered by many as a certain cult hero.
Quotes
"Rules are rules. We abided by them, so can they"
John Hartson on Rangers attempts to extend the season in 2007/08 to help themselves (The Sun newspaper, Apr 08)
Club Record
