| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 10 February 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Bellshill, Scotland | ||
| Height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||
| Playing position | Right back | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Hibernian | ||
| Number | 2 | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1997–2001 | Aberdeen | 16 | (0) |
| 2000 | → Livingston (loan) | 3 | (0) |
| 2000–2001 | → Livingston (loan) | 22 | (0) |
| 2001–2003 | Livingston | 32 | (0) |
| 2003–2008 | Aberdeen | 107 | (0) |
| 2008–2010 | Preston North End | 19 | (0) |
| 2010– | Hibernian | 18 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 April 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Michael Hart (born 10 February 1980 in Bellshill) is a Scottish footballer who currently plays as a right back for Hibernian in the Scottish Premier League.
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Hart came through the ranks at Aberdeen and made his debut in a 1–1 draw with Dunfermline Athletic in 1998. He made a total of 19 first team appearances before moving on to Livingston on loan in 2000. His move to Livingston was made permanent in July 2001[1] and he helped them to a third place finish in their first season in the SPL, which gave them qualification for the 2002–03 UEFA Cup.
Hart returned to Aberdeen in February 2003[2] and, after a shaky start, established himself as a fleet-footed, quick tackling right back. He missed most of the 2005–2006 season due to a knee injury, featuring in only four matches, but came back into the team for the 2006–2007 season and featured in almost every game, helping the club to a third place finish in the league. In July 2007, Hart was involved in a car crash whilst on tour with Aberdeen in Egypt along with team-mate Jamie Smith. Neither player was seriously hurt.
In January 2008, Hart signed a pre-contract agreement with Preston North End and was expected to move to Deepdale at the end of the season. However, on 31 January, Preston had an offer thought to be £100,000 accepted for the right-back.[3] Hart then suffered from a succession of injuries, making only 25 appearances for Preston in over two years with the club.[4] Preston manager Darren Ferguson listed Hart for transfer in May 2010.[4]
Hart returned to the SPL in July 2010, with Hibernian, after his contract with Preston was cancelled.[5] Hart's preferred position of right back had been a significant problem for Hibs during the previous season.[4] He had been a target for Hibs manager John Hughes, who had been unable to sign him previously for "different reasons".[4] Shortly after signing, Hart scored his first goal for 12 years and his first ever in club football, in a friendly against ADO Den Haag.[6]
Hart suffered a serious groin injury in a friendly match against Sunderland in August 2011.[7][8]
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