We had the privilege of sitting down with actual Joe Hart earlier this week, on a very rare English day where everything was saturated in a brilliant, golden light. We spoke about playing cricket with a fast-bowling Moeen Ali, building psychological walls, his most profound experiences on a football pitch and loads more. Enjoy.

What was the moment in your career that made you proud to be a footballer?

How I finished, really, more than anything. Not that I didn’t love playing the game, but just being able to put the gloves down and be pleased with what I'd done. That was a pretty special feeling. 

I think the only times that you're really proud of what you do is when you inspire people, if you can actually light up a room and make people's day just by being a professional footballer. And a lot of the time, people don't know who you are, especially younger children, when you’re introduced by a parent or by a friend, but then they find out you're a footballer, they look at you differently—and that's quite a special feeling. It's a real honour. 

How has goalkeeping shaped your life?

People talk about the psychological barrier you have to build up as a ‘keeper, to protect yourself and insulate yourself from the fact that you will concede a goal, that failure is always there. But the thing is, I didn't have to build it. I only really think like that. I still think like a goalkeeper to this day, because it’s very much a position that you've got to live with, day in, day out. All your decisions, all your emotions, the way that you do things, the way that you set things up, on and off the field. I think like a goalie, which is someone who's just looking for solutions.

You've got to look for or imagine worst-case scenarios and figure out what you can do to prevent them or help them, and that's kind of how I've always thought and always worked, so I wouldn't even know how to think in another way.

I got my comfort when playing by leaving no stone unturned when it came to preparation, how I trained, and my understanding of the opposition—everything I could possibly control. Then I felt like I could just play and handle whatever came with it, good or bad, and that attitude has stayed with me even when I stopped playing. 

There's only one man that I could put in a curling arena, a basketball arena, in a swimming pool or on a golf course and expect to succeed.

What was your most special moment on a football pitch?

Obviously, from a personal standpoint. I think it is hard to look past winning the title for the first time. That raw emotion, and not necessarily the winning of it, but the fact that we thought we'd missed an opportunity. Up until the final three minutes of the season, we were 2–1 down. Everything we'd worked for and set up was gone. So to go from having lost everything to winning it all.  It was horrible to be stood down there helpless, just watching the game unfold, thinking we fucked it. I can't believe this has happened. What do we do now? 

How do we unpick this? Everything was set up for us to win. Everything was in place, and it wasn't gonna happen. I had to try and deal with that aftermath in my head. Luckily, we had a stay of execution that day, but I've had many a time where it has followed through, and you've had to deal with the aftermath of not doing what you set out to do. But it was indescribable, the emotion and relief I felt afterwards.

You played cricket to a fair standard growing up. How was it playing alongside Moeen Ali, and who were your cricketing heroes?

I loved playing with Moeen. He was such a different character than he is now. I'm not saying he is no fun now, but he's very responsible, you know? I think he's an incredible pro and a great example to anyone out there. But growing up, you know, there was a real edge to him. He was much cheekier, he was a fast bowler with a mean streak—didn't even bowl spin at that point, that’s how different he was.

I could never look away from anyone who could bowl fast and hit the ball hard. All-rounders who gave everything and played so hard, because that was how I liked to play the game. So obviously Freddie Flintoff covered both those bases. But I loved watching Curtly Ambrose and Allan Donald, those sorts of players, who were aggressive bowlers and who could terrify bats. Then, from a batting point of view, anyone who absolutely smashed it, like Kevin Pietersen, for example, who was so great to watch. I always enjoyed a wicketkeeper batting, even though I didn't keep wicket. I found that when I was growing up, they were the kind of batsman who changed games.

There's overlap, I suppose, between being a goalie and being a cricketer. That particular psychology of just leaving it all out there. Of being in control and coming to terms with failure.

Which former teammate of yours do you reckon could dominate in some cricket whites?

There's only one man. There's only one man that I could put in a curling arena, a basketball arena, in a swimming pool or on a golf course and expect to succeed. He just broke the Premier League record for appearances. Put him in any scenario, and I would back James Milner to come up with a solution.

He's a wicketkeeper-batsman. But not like the ones I loved watching, ironically! He'd be a Foakes or something. Staying power and great glove work, winning games quietly.

His way of life, the consistency he brings—it's non-negotiable with him. He doesn't have to go out of his way to be James Milner. He just lives and doesn't see any other way of existing, and credit to him.

What do you think defines you, as a person and a footballer?

Well, as we said, I grew up playing cricket and football. Like in cricket, you are failing no matter what. You could have the best game of your life. If you are a bat, you fail, and you could bowl a brilliant spell and get smacked for six. Right? You have to constantly deal with the concept of failure.

 I've always been comfortable with that. It sounds so counterproductive to say that, but I get really comfortable with the worst-case scenario. But then, obviously, look to implement a contingency plan so we can win. But I think as a goalkeeper, you’ve got to be okay with it, with letting goals in. 

You can be in the best form ever, and then it takes a deflection off someone, or someone doesn't shoot, and they square it, and you're not there. What can you do? You have to come to terms with the fact that you put yourself in the best position possible, and there are consequences that aren’t in your control.

If you know that, you'll be able to get over it and then keep putting yourself out there. I think that mentality is transferable in any sport, really.

All I know is I try my best all the time. I just left it all out there as a player and will continue in everything else I do. That way, there’s no regrets.

Joe Hart is a nice bloke, a brilliant bowler, and a pundit and commentator for TNT Sports. Catch action from the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Emirates FA Cup and Adobe Women’s FA Cup all on TNT Sports and discovery+. All the best.