Joe Hart showed extreme confidence to step up and take a penalty during the Scottish Cup semi-final shoot-out against Aberdeen. 

The former Celtic shot-stopper's effort cannoned off the post that day, but he immediately made amends by saving Killian Phillips' spot-kick to send the Hoops through to final, which they went on to win in Hart's final game in professional football. 

It was a fitting way to depart Parkhead for Hart as he hung up his boots at the end of last season, with Celtic yet to find a replacement.

The 37-year-old has been keeping occupied since by working on the BBC's coverage of Euro 2024 and has reflected on his experiences of both taking and saving penalties throughout his 21 year career within the sport. 

“I took a penalty for Celtic in a shootout to decide the Scottish Cup semi-final against Aberdeen in April,” the ex-England number one wrote in his BBC Sport column. 

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“I hit the post but I made up for it immediately with the save that sent us through.

“That was the first competitive spot-kick I had taken since 2009. I had scored that time, for England against Sweden in the semi-final of the European Under-21 Championship when we won on sudden death.

“But I missed the first one I ever took, in 2005 for Shrewsbury Town against Sheffield United when I was 18. I hit the stanchion...and we lost, but I suppose I can say I never had a spot-kick saved.

“On all three occasions, though, I was one of the first five takers, because I have always put my name forward to take them – I have not been stepping up reluctantly as 10th or 11th in line.

“I took plenty more in pre-season games too. I know they are not as important but I always wanted to let the manager know that I felt confident, because I did.

“Whenever I took a penalty I would always think that if I executed what I planned to do, it could not be saved. Probably the best example of that is the one I took for Manchester City in a friendly with Roma in 2015., external

“As a goalkeeper I know what is possible when you are standing on the line, in terms of what you can and cannot cover. With the right practice, I always felt I should be able to put it somewhere it cannot be reached.

“When I took it, I just tried to get myself in a mode where I felt confident and comfortable standing over the ball. Even then obviously you can still miss, but I was happy with the way that one went.”