John Hartson facts for kids
Hartson in 2007
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| 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) | ||
| Position(s) | 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) | |
| International career | |||
| Wales U21 | |||
| 1995–2005 | Wales | 51 | (14) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
John Hartson (born 5 April 1975) is a Welsh former professional footballer and coach. He also works as a sports television pundit for channels like S4C, Sky Sports, and TNT Sports.
As a player, John was a powerful striker. He is especially known for his time with the Scottish club Celtic. While playing for Celtic, he helped the team win three Scottish Premier League titles. Hartson also played in the Premier League for famous clubs such as Arsenal, West Ham United, Wimbledon, Coventry City, and West Bromwich Albion. He also played in the Football League for Luton Town and Norwich City.
John Hartson proudly represented his country, Wales, earning 51 international caps. He scored 14 goals for Wales. After his playing career, he even coached the strikers for the Welsh national team.
Contents
Early Life and Football Beginnings
John Hartson was born on 5 April 1975 in Swansea, Wales. He was the third of four children. His father, Cyril Hartson, also played football for a local team called Afan Lido.
John grew up in Talycoppa, Swansea, with his older brother James, older sister Hayley, and younger sister Victoria. He started playing football at a young age for Lonlas Boys' Club in Skewen. When he was sixteen, he joined Luton Town's youth training program. He later became a professional player in 1992.
Playing for Top Clubs
Luton Town and Arsenal Years
John Hartson made his first team debut for Luton Town in August 1993. In January 1995, when he was just 19, he joined Arsenal. This move cost £2.5 million, which was a record fee 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 very next week, helping Arsenal win 1–0 against Coventry City. A memorable moment was scoring Arsenal's goal in the 1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final. However, Arsenal lost the game 2–1. He played alongside famous striker Ian Wright.
After playing 53 games and scoring 14 goals for Arsenal, Hartson moved to West Ham United in February 1997. This transfer was worth £3.2 million, making him West Ham's most expensive player at the time.
Time at West Ham United
Hartson's debut for West Ham was on 15 February 1997. He scored his first goal for the club in his second game, 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 was West Ham's top scorer with 24 goals in 42 games across all competitions. He played 73 games for West Ham and scored 33 goals in total. His final game for the club was in January 1999.
Wimbledon and Coventry City
In January 1999, Hartson joined Wimbledon for £7.5 million. This made him Wimbledon's most expensive signing ever. Despite some injuries, he scored a good number of goals for the club. Wimbledon was in the Premier League at first, then the First Division after being relegated in 2000.
In February 2001, Hartson moved to Coventry City. He scored six goals in twelve league games for Coventry, including two goals against Manchester United at Old Trafford. However, Coventry City was relegated from the Premier League at the end of that season.
Success with Celtic
In August 2001, John Hartson joined Celtic in a £6 million transfer. 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 in October 2001. At the end of his first season, he helped Celtic win the Scottish Premier League title.
In December 2002, Hartson scored a crucial goal in the UEFA Cup against Celta Vigo. This helped Celtic progress further in the competition, which was a big achievement for the club. In March 2003, Celtic faced Liverpool in the UEFA Cup quarter-finals. Hartson scored an amazing goal from over 25 yards out, helping Celtic win 2–0 and reach the semi-final. He played a huge part in Celtic's journey to the 2003 UEFA Cup Final, though he missed the final due to injury.
Celtic continued to achieve success during his time there. They won the 2003–04 Scottish Cup and the 2003-04 title. In April 2005, he won the Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year award. In May, he was voted the Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year. He also played when Celtic won the 2005 Scottish Cup Final.
On 6 November 2005, Hartson scored his 100th goal for Celtic. On his 31st birthday, 5 April 2006, he scored the only goal against Hearts to secure another league title for Celtic. John felt a 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 during a difficult time in his life.
Later Career and Retirement
On 26 June 2006, Hartson signed a two-year contract with Football League Championship side West Bromwich Albion. He scored two goals on his debut for Albion.
In October 2007, Hartson joined Norwich City on a month's loan. He was released by West Bromwich Albion in January 2008. On 7 February 2008, John Hartson announced his retirement from professional football. He mentioned that managing his weight and fitness had become challenging.
International Football for Wales
John Hartson played for the Wales 51 times. He scored 14 goals for his country. He is currently the 11th highest goal scorer of all time for Wales.
He also holds a record for the Wales U21 team. He is one of only four players to have scored 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.
Life After Playing Football
After retiring from playing, John Hartson was offered the chance to become a manager for East Stirlingshire. However, he decided the timing was not right for him.
He then began a career in media as a football pundit. He joined Setanta Sports for the 2008–09 season. As a Welsh speaker, Hartson often appears as a guest on S4C's Sgorio. He has also worked for BBC Radio 5 Live, giving commentary on Premier League and Champions League games. In 2011, Hartson became a part-time coach with Newport County. In 2016, he joined BT Sport to provide analysis. He also appeared in a Welsh language travel show called Am Dro in January 2024.
Personal Life and Health
In July 2009, John Hartson faced a serious health challenge when he was diagnosed with cancer. He received treatment and successfully recovered. By December of that year, reports confirmed that the cancer had been virtually removed from his body. He continued to receive further medical care. John Hartson has always been a lifelong supporter of his hometown club, Swansea City.
Honours and Achievements
John Hartson achieved many honours during his football career:
Arsenal
- UEFA Cup Winners' Cup runner-up: 1994–95
Celtic
- Scottish Premier League: 2001–02, 2003–04, 2005–06
- Scottish Cup: 2003–04, 2004–05
- Scottish League Cup: 2005–06
Individual Awards
- Welsh Footballer of the Year: 1998, 2001, 2003
- PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year: 2005
- SFWA Footballer of the Year: 2005
- FAI International Personality: 2016
Images for kids
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Hartson in 2007
See also
In Spanish: John Hartson para niños
