Joe Hart pens 5 year Manchester City deal

It’s exciting times for 21 year old Joe Hart, as the Manchester City shot stopper signed another 5 year extension to his contract with The Blues. Manager Mark Hughes was delighted to see that the youngster has opted for a long term stake at the club, and has cited the importance of youth development for the Premiership outfits success.

Joe Hart has come a long way over a very short time from his days at Shrewsbury Town F.C. and League Two football. One of the most promising aspects of Hart’s development is that he was recently opened the door to international football with the England squad under Fabio Capello. Although, not playing a game as yet, it is still a solid progression in one so young as Hart.

Readers at Keeper Skool often ask me the question (in obvious frustration) around why they are not progressing their goalkeeping development as they should. Joe Hart is a great example of what a long term plan and steadfast dedication can allow a young goalkeeper to achieve over a short time period.

Obviously, natural talent is important in goalkeeping, though it is not the only facet to a goalkeepers development. What many goalkeepers don’t understand, is that it takes many years to get to the “next” level in your development (whatever that means to you).

Joe Hart’s contract extension also provides solidity to the above statement, in that sticking to your guns at a top level club, and working hard to play first team football is key to long term success. There is no stop-gap measure. Goalkeeping success, as I’ve mentioned in The G-Code is all a matter of pressure and time.

What the above statement means is that, as an elite level goalkeeper, you must be able to withstand the pressure of the role, and be in it for the long haul, something that the new contract extension by Joe Hart for Manchester City exemplifies wholeheartedly.

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