John Hartson facts for kids
Hartson in 2007
|
|||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | John Hartson | ||
| Date of birth | 5 April 1975 | ||
| Place of birth | Swansea, Wales | ||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||
| Playing position | Striker | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1992–1995 | Luton Town | 54 | (11) |
| 1995–1997 | Arsenal | 53 | (14) |
| 1997–1999 | West Ham United | 60 | (24) |
| 1999–2001 | Wimbledon | 49 | (19) |
| 2001 | Coventry City | 12 | (6) |
| 2001–2006 | Celtic | 146 | (88) |
| 2006–2008 | West Bromwich Albion | 21 | (5) |
| 2007 | → Norwich City (loan) | 4 | (0) |
| Total | 399 | (167) | |
| National team | |||
| Wales U21 | 9 | (?) | |
| 1995–2005 | Wales | 51 | (14) |
|
|||
John Hartson (born 5 April 1975) is a Welsh former professional footballer. He played as a striker. After retiring from playing, he became a coach and a sports television pundit. He is well-known for his time playing for the Scottish club Celtic. With Celtic, he helped the team win three Scottish Premier League titles.
Hartson also played in the Premier League for clubs like Arsenal, West Ham United, and West Bromwich Albion. He also played in the Football League for Luton Town and Norwich City. He represented Wales in international matches, earning 51 caps and scoring 14 goals. Later, he coached the strikers for the Welsh national team.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Football
John Hartson was born in Swansea, Wales, on 5 April 1975. He was the third of four children. His father, Cyril, also played football for a local team. John grew up in Talycoppa, Swansea. He started playing football at a young age for Lonlas Boys' Club when he was just six years old.
At sixteen, Hartson joined Luton Town's youth training program. Early in his career, he faced a difficult situation that led to a temporary suspension. However, he was soon allowed to continue his training and pursue his dream of becoming a professional footballer.
Club Career Highlights
Luton Town and Arsenal Years
John Hartson became a professional footballer in 1992. He made his first team debut for Luton Town in August 1993. In January 1995, when he was 19, he joined Arsenal. The transfer fee of £2.5 million was a record for a teenage player at that time.
He made his Arsenal debut on 14 January 1995. He scored his first goal for the club the following week against Coventry City. Hartson played regularly in his first season. A memorable moment was scoring Arsenal's equalizing goal in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final. However, Arsenal lost the game 2–1. He often played alongside the famous striker Ian Wright.
After Dennis Bergkamp joined Arsenal, Hartson's playing time changed. In February 1997, he moved to West Ham United in a £3.2 million deal. This made him West Ham's most expensive player at the time. In total, Hartson played 53 games for Arsenal and scored 14 goals.
Time at West Ham United
Hartson joined West Ham United on 15 February 1997. His first goal for West Ham came on 24 February 1997 in a 4–3 win against Tottenham Hotspur. In his first season, he scored five league goals. He helped West Ham improve their league position significantly.
The next season was very successful for Hartson. He finished as West Ham's top scorer with 24 goals in 42 games. This was much higher than any other player on the team. He was also one of the top scorers in the Premier League that season. In September 1998, there was an incident during training with teammate Eyal Berkovic. Hartson later admitted it was a mistake. His performance dipped after this, and he scored only four goals in the 1998–99 season. His last game for West Ham was an FA Cup match against his hometown club, Swansea City.
Hartson played 73 times for West Ham and scored 33 goals.
Wimbledon and Coventry City
In January 1999, Hartson joined Wimbledon for £7.5 million. This was Wimbledon's most expensive signing ever. His time there was affected by injuries. However, he still scored a good number of goals. He played for Wimbledon in the Premier League and then in the First Division after the club was relegated in 2000.
Moves to other clubs like Rangers and Tottenham did not happen due to concerns about his fitness. In February 2001, Hartson moved to Coventry City. He scored six goals in twelve league games for Coventry, but the team was relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season.
Success with Celtic
In August 2001, Hartson made a big move to Celtic for £6 million. He made his debut on 4 August 2001. He scored his first goals for Celtic with a hat-trick in a 5–1 win against Dundee United on 20 October 2001. In his first season, he helped Celtic win the Scottish Premier League title.
In December 2002, Hartson scored in a UEFA Cup match against Celta Vigo. Celtic moved forward in the competition, which was a big achievement. In March 2003, Celtic played Liverpool in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. Hartson scored a fantastic goal from over 25 yards out, helping Celtic win 2–0 and reach the semi-finals. He missed the 2003 UEFA Cup Final due to a back injury, but he had played a huge part in Celtic's journey.
In March 2004, he had back surgery and missed the rest of the season. However, he recovered to play for Wales in the 2006 World Cup qualifiers. Celtic won the 2003–04 Scottish Cup and the 2003-04 title that season.
In 2005, he received two important awards: the Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year and the Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year. He also helped Celtic win the 2005 Scottish Cup Final. On 6 November 2005, Hartson scored his 100th goal for Celtic against Falkirk. On his 31st birthday, 5 April 2006, he scored the winning goal against Hearts, which secured another league title for Celtic.
John Hartson felt a very strong connection with Celtic and its fans. He even has a tattoo of the Celtic crest with the words 'You'll Never Walk Alone' to show his appreciation for their support, especially during a difficult time in his life.
West Bromwich Albion and Retirement
On 26 June 2006, Hartson signed a two-year contract with West Bromwich Albion for £500,000. He scored two goals on his debut for Albion. In October 2007, Hartson joined Norwich City on a one-month loan. In January 2008, he was released by West Bromwich Albion.
On 7 February 2008, John Hartson announced his retirement from football. He mentioned that his ongoing struggles with weight and fitness were key reasons for ending his playing career.
International Career for Wales
John Hartson played for Wales 51 times, scoring 14 goals. He is among the top goal scorers for the Welsh national team. He also holds a record for the Wales U21 team, being one of only four players to score a hat-trick at that level.
He retired from international football in February 2006 to focus on his club career. However, he later said he would play for Wales again if the national team needed him.
Media Career and Coaching
After retiring from playing, John Hartson was offered a management role at East Stirlingshire, but he decided the timing wasn't right. He then became a pundit for Setanta Sports, covering the Scottish Premier League. As a Welsh speaker, he often appears on S4C's Sgorio. He has also worked as a match summariser for BBC Radio 5 Live.
In 2011, Hartson took on a part-time coaching role with Newport County. In 2016, he joined BT Sport to provide analysis for their football coverage. He also appeared on a Welsh language travel show in 2024.
Personal Life
John Hartson faced a serious health challenge when he was diagnosed with cancer. Thankfully, after receiving treatment, he recovered well. He has always been a lifelong supporter of his hometown club, Swansea City.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Luton Town | 1992–93 | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | |
| 1993–94 | 34 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 39 | 7 | |||
| 1994–95 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 21 | 6 | |||
| Total | 54 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 13 | ||
| Arsenal | 1994–95 | Premier League | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 22 | 8 |
| 1995–96 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | – | 23 | 5 | |||
| 1996–97 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 26 | 4 | ||
| Total | 53 | 14 | 3 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 1 | 71 | 17 | ||
| West Ham United | 1996–97 | Premier League | 11 | 5 | – | – | – | 11 | 5 | |||
| 1997–98 | 32 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 6 | – | 42 | 24 | |||
| 1998–99 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | 20 | 4 | |||
| Total | 60 | 24 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 73 | 33 | ||
| Wimbledon | 1998–99 | Premier League | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 | 2 | |
| 1999–2000 | 16 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 20 | 9 | |||
| 2000–01 | First Division | 19 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | – | 23 | 10 | ||
| Total | 49 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 57 | 21 | ||
| Coventry City | 2000–01 | Premier League | 12 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 12 | 6 | |
| Celtic | 2001–02 | Scottish Premier League | 31 | 19 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 42 | 24 |
| 2002–03 | 27 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 45 | 25 | ||
| 2003–04 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 23 | 10 | ||
| 2004–05 | 38 | 25 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 50 | 30 | ||
| 2005–06 | 35 | 18 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 41 | 20 | ||
| Total | 146 | 88 | 12 | 8 | 11 | 7 | 32 | 6 | 201 | 109 | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2006–07 | Championship | 21 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | – | 24 | 6 | |
| Norwich City (loan) | 2007–08 | Championship | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 4 | 0 | |
| Career total | 399 | 167 | 30 | 15 | 32 | 16 | 41 | 7 | 502 | 205 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 1995 | 4 | 0 |
| 1996 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 4 | 1 | |
| 1998 | 3 | 1 | |
| 1999 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 6 | 4 | |
| 2002 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2003 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2004 | 5 | 3 | |
| 2005 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total | 51 | 14 | |
Honours and Awards
John Hartson achieved many successes during his football career:
Arsenal
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup runner-up: 1994–95 (finished second)
Celtic
- Scottish Premier League: He helped Celtic win the league title three times: 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06
- Scottish Cup: Won the Scottish Cup twice: 2003–04, 2004–05
- Scottish League Cup: Won the Scottish League Cup once: 2005–06
Individual Awards
- Welsh Footballer of the Year: 1998, 2001, 2003 (won this award three times)
- PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year: 2005 (voted best player by his fellow players in Scotland)
- SFWA Footballer of the Year: 2005 (voted best player by football writers in Scotland)
- FAI International Personality: 2016
See also
In Spanish: John Hartson para niños
