'I'm a Match of the Day regular now – here's the bizarre way I prepare for BBC show'

Joe Hart spent his football career diving all over the place in goal. Now the ex-Manchester City and England shot-stopper spends a large chunk of his day sitting on the floor.

In the summer of 2024, Hart announced his retirement from football. He has since gone on to become a popular television pundit and personality, appearing on a variety of podcasts and carrying out many interesting interviews.

Significantly, he has become a regular on Match of the Day, where his career as a world class goalkeeper has given him a unique perspective on the game. Like many other Premier League winners, routines and superstitions were a big part of his game.

However, there are many other habits and activities he carries out to inform his punditry. He opened up about some of his habits during a recent appearance on the Stick to Cricket podcast.

Host and England cricket icon Michael Vaughan, with a look of bewilderment, asked Hart about a rumour he heard through the grapevine of many television studios. The Ashes winner questioned: "Is that right that on Match of the Day on a Saturday or Sunday, you sit on the floor all day?”

The 38-year-old replied: "Yeah, it took me a while to do it because you have to kind of act like you are normal for a bit and then everyone gets your personality.

"I did it in the summer when I started straight away in the Euros doing the radio, we were in like compact rooms and I just plonked on the floor because it is where I am at my comfiest and where I can relax.”

Perhaps wondering if any injuries throughout his career were behind this strange routine, cricket commentator and personality David Lloyd asked: "Nothing to do with you having a bad back or anything?”

The former West Ham goalkeeper then replied: "A little bit. But just from young if I was at home and we had like sofas in the front room and watching TV, I would always go on the floor. I still do it to this day.”

Hart has previously spoken about his history of back issues in the past. He recently said to the BBC: "I’ve got a long thoracic [vertebrae] and to look after that I have to sit big and strong.

"I like being tall, I like being proud, I like feeling strong so that’s how I see it. That’s just what I do. I understand in the modern generation you can get slumped.

"But as soon as I feel slumped I don’t like it, I feel disgusting. I like to stand big and tall, sit big and tall, it makes me feel confident.”

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