View source for John Hartson

{{short description|Welsh footballer (born 1975)}}
{{for|the English player|John Harston}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                 = John Hartson
| image                = John Hartson.jpg
| image_size           = 
| caption              = Hartson in 2007
| fullname             = John Hartson<ref name="Hugman2008-09 194">{{Cite book | editor-first = Barry J. | editor-last = Hugman | title = The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2008–09 | year = 2008 | publisher = Mainstream Publishing | isbn = 978-1-84596-324-8 | page = 194 }}</ref>
| birth_date           = {{Birth date and age|1975|4|5|df=y}}
| birth_place          = [[Swansea]], Wales
| height               = {{height|ft=6|in=1}}
| position             = [[Forward (association football)|Striker]]
| currentclub          =
| youthyears1          =
| youthclubs1          =
| years1               = 1992–1995
| clubs1               = [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
| caps1                = 54
| goals1               = 11
| years2               = 1995–1997
| clubs2               = [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| caps2                = 53
| goals2               = 14
| years3               = 1997–1999
| clubs3               = [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
| caps3                = 60
| goals3               = 24
| years4               = 1999–2001
| clubs4               = [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]]
| caps4                = 49
| goals4               = 19
| years5               = 2001
| clubs5               = [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
| caps5                = 12
| goals5               = 6
| years6               = 2001–2006
| clubs6               = [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
| caps6                = 146
| goals6               = 88
| years7               = 2006–2008
| clubs7               = [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
| caps7                = 21
| goals7               = 5
| years8               = 2007
| clubs8               = → [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] (loan)
| caps8                = 4
| goals8               = 0
| totalcaps            = 399
| totalgoals           = 167
| nationalyears1       = 
| nationalteam1        = [[Wales national under-21 football team|Wales U21]]
| nationalcaps1        = 
| nationalgoals1       = 
| nationalyears2       = 1995–2005
| nationalteam2        = [[Wales national football team|Wales]]
| nationalcaps2        = 51
| nationalgoals2       = 14
}}
'''John Hartson''' (born 5 April 1975) is a Welsh former professional [[association football|footballer]], coach and sports television pundit for [[S4C]], [[Sky Sports]], Premier Sports TV and [[BT Sport|TNT Sports]].

As a player he was a [[striker (association football)|striker]], notably for Scottish club [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] where his time with the Hoops saw three [[Scottish Premier League]] titles. Hartson also played in the [[Premier League]] with [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]], [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]], [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] and [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]], and in the [[Football League]] for [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] and [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]].

Hartson earned 51 international caps for [[Wales national football team|Wales]], scoring 14 goals. He later held the position of head coach for Wales's strikers.

==Early life==
John Hartson was born on 5 April 1975 in [[Swansea]], the third of four children to Cyril and Diana Hartson. Cyril had played football for local team [[Afan Lido F.C.|Afan Lido]]. 
His paternal grandfather, Pius Hartson (1918–2012), was Canadian from [[Dominion of Newfoundland|Newfoundland]] and served with the [[Royal Navy]] during [[World War II]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.canadiansoccernews.com/forums/topic/50478-john-hartson-canadian-connection/ | title=John Hartson Canadian Connection! | date=18 August 2004 }}</ref> Hartson grew up in [[Talycoppa]], Swansea, alongside his elder brother James, elder sister Hayley and younger sister Victoria.<ref>Hartson, 27–31.</ref> As a youngster Hartson represented Lonlas Boys' Club in [[Skewen]], playing his first match aged six.<ref>Hartson, 28.</ref> He joined [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]'s [[Youth Training Scheme]] at the age of sixteen but was suspended four months later for stealing a bank card from the son of a couple with whom he was lodging. He used the card to withdraw £50 in order to fund his gambling addiction. Hartson was suspended and sent home to Swansea but was reinstated by Luton shortly afterwards and allowed to resume his apprenticeship.<ref>Hartson, 44–48.</ref>

==Club career==

===Luton Town and Arsenal===
Hartson turned professional in 1992 and made his [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]] first team debut as a substitute in a 1–0 [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] defeat to [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]] on 24 August 1993.<ref>Hartson, 55.</ref> In January 1995, at 19, he joined [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] for £2.5 million, a British record fee for a teenage player at the time.<ref>Hartson, 89.</ref><ref name=Feature1@>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/31003117|title=John Hartson: The day I became Britain's most expensive teenager|work=BBC Sport}}</ref>
Along with [[Chris Kiwomya]],<ref name=Arsenal>{{cite web|url=https://www.arsenal.com/historic/players/john-hartson|title=John Hartson: Profile|website=Arsenal F.C.}}</ref> Hartson was one of [[George Graham (footballer, born 1944)|George Graham]]'s last signings before the manager's sacking in February 1995. He made his Arsenal debut on 14 January 1995, a 1–1 home draw with Everton, and scored his first goal for the club the following week, the only goal in a 1–0 away win at Coventry City. He was a regular for the remainder of his first season, a highlight of which was scoring Arsenal's 75th-minute equaliser in the [[1995 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final]] against [[Real Zaragoza]]; however a last-minute goal from 40 yards by [[Nayim]] over [[David Seaman]] meant Arsenal lost the game 2–1. He was strike-partner to [[Ian Wright]], being favoured ahead of [[Kevin Campbell (footballer)|Kevin Campbell]] to fill the gap left by the injured [[Alan Smith (footballer, born 1962)|Alan Smith]], who retired at the end of the season.<ref name=View /><ref name=Feature /><ref name=Feature1@ />

Following the signing of [[Dennis Bergkamp]], who was preferred up front to partner Wright, Hartson went on to feature under Graham's successors [[Bruce Rioch]] and [[Arsène Wenger]]. With Wenger wanting him to stay at the
club, Hartson though in February 1997 linked up with [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] in a £3.2 million deal. At the time, he was the most expensive player to be signed by West Ham. The deal was initially reported to be worth £5 million.<ref name=View>{{cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eGOUoit79UM |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211222/eGOUoit79UM |archive-date=22 December 2021 |url-status=live|title=John Hartson on his move to Arsenal|publisher=KICCA|website=YouTube|date=10 March 2015 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=Feature /><ref name=Feature1@ />

In total, Hartson played 53 times for Arsenal, scoring 14 goals.<ref name=Arsenal />

===West Ham United===
Hartson made his debut for West Ham on 15 February 1997 alongside another new signing, [[Paul Kitson]]. West Ham lost 1–0 to [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] and Hartson was booked.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/derby-county-v-west-ham-united-15-february-1997-22797/ | title=Derby County v West Ham United, 15 February 1997 | publisher=11v11.com | access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> His first West Ham goal came in his next following game on 24 February 1997, a 4–3 home win over [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.11v11.com/matches/west-ham-united-v-tottenham-hotspur-24-february-1997-22812/ | title=West Ham 4–3 Tottenham | publisher=11v11.com | access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> In his first season, he scored five league goals from eleven games and was instrumental in helping West Ham rise from 18th when he joined to a final league position for [[1996–97 West Ham United F.C. season|1996–97 season]] of 14th.<ref name="whustats">{{cite web | url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=2&ham=304&united=John_Hartson | title=West Ham United statistics | publisher=westhamstats.info | access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> The [[1997–98 West Ham United F.C. season|next season]] saw Hartson finish, with 24 goals in 42 games in all competitions, as West Ham's top scorer. Hartson's goal tally was in all a considerable margin ahead of the next highest scorer, [[Eyal Berkovic]] with nine goals.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=4&ham=1998&united=Premier_League_1997-98 | title=Premier League 1997–98 | publisher=westhamstats.net | access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> In the 1998 close season, [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] chairman [[Martin Edwards]] and assistant manager [[Brian Kidd]] expressed their desire for Hartson to sign for Manchester United to manager [[Alex Ferguson]]. However, Ferguson decided against making a bid for Hartson.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1023534_ferguson_21_that_got_away|title=Ferguson: 21 that got away|work=men|access-date=17 October 2014|archive-date=19 December 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219125700/http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/football/manchester_united/s/1023534_ferguson_21_that_got_away|url-status=dead}}</ref> In a training ground incident in September 1998, Hartson kicked West Ham teammate [[Eyal Berkovic]] in the face, after the [[Israel]]i midfielder had punched Hartson in the leg as he attempted to help Berkovic to his feet. The incident was captured on camera. Hartson was fined and admitted in his biography that it was an error of judgement.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-hartson-to-be-charged-by-fa-1177486.html | title=Football: Hartson to be charged by FA | work=The Independent | date=11 October 1998 | access-date=9 July 2013 | location=London | first=Danny | last=Hicks}}</ref> Berkovic said of the incident "''If my head had been a ball, it would have been in the top corner of the net''".<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n9lIBngnfakC&q=hartson+berkovic&pg=PA181 | title=Soccer's Most Wanted | access-date=9 July 2013 | author=Carlisle, Jeff| date=February 2009 | publisher=Potomac Books | isbn=9781597971935 }}</ref>

His form suffered and he managed only four goals from twenty games in [[1998–99 West Ham United F.C. season|season 1998–99]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=4&ham=1999&united=Premier_League_1998-99 | title=Premier League 1998–99 | publisher=westhamstats.info | access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref> His final game on 13 January 1999, saw West Ham lose 1–0 in an [[FA Cup]] tie against his hometown club, [[Swansea City F.C.|Swansea City]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.westhamstats.info/westham.php?west=5&ham=4123&united=13_Jan_1999 | title=Game played on 13 Jan 1999 | publisher=westhamstats.info | access-date=9 July 2013}}</ref>

Hartson played 73 times and scored 33 goals for the east London club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football.london/west-ham-united-fc/players/how-john-hartson-became-one-12601025.amp|title=How John Hartson became one of West Ham's most important Premier League signings|website=Football London|date=14 February 2017}}</ref>

===Wimbledon===
Hartson joined [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] in January 1999, becoming the club's most expensive signing ever at £7.5m.<ref>{{cite news |date=15 January 1999 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/fa_carling_premiership/256117.stm |title=Dons swoop for Hartson |work=BBC Sport |access-date=7 August 2008}}</ref> His time with the Dons was marred by injury, though he still managed a respectable goal tally, first in the Premier League, then the First Division following the club's relegation in 2000. Proposed moves to [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]],<ref name = "medical">{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/904555.stm|title=Hartson move collapses|work=BBC Sport|date=31 August 2000|access-date=27 April 2012}}</ref> [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham]]<ref name = "medical"/> and [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton]] fell through due to doubts over the player's fitness. Hartson instead joined [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]] on a pay-for-play deal in February 2001.<ref>{{cite news |date=8 February 2001 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/coventry_city/1144409.stm |title=Coventry complete Hartson deal |work=BBC Sport |access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref>

===Coventry City===
Hartson made his Coventry debut against former club West Ham on 12 February 2001.<ref>{{cite news |date=12 February 2001 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1167072.stm |title=Last-gasp Coventry deny Hammers |work=BBC Sport |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> He went on to score six goals in twelve league games, including a brace in a defeat to [[Manchester United]] at [[Old Trafford]].<ref>{{cite news |date=14 April 2001 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1274590.stm |title=Man Utd stun battling Coventry |work=BBC Sport |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{Soccerbase season|3315|2000|name=John Hartson|access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> However, despite his efforts Coventry were relegated from the [[Premier League]] at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 May 2001 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_prem/1310324.stm |title=Coventry relegated at Villa |work=BBC Sport |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref>

===Celtic===
[[File:John Hartson, Celtic legends match.jpg|thumb|left|200px|John Hartson before kick-off at the [[John Kennedy (Scottish footballer)|John Kennedy]] testimonial match, 9 August 2011]]
In August 2001, Hartson joined [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] in a £6m transfer.<ref>{{cite news |title=Celtic sign trio on deadline day |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/1464876.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=2 August 2001 |access-date=15 January 2008}}</ref> He made his debut on 4 August 2001, coming on as a substitute in a league match away at [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Kilmarnock 0–1 Celtic|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/1473538.stm|access-date=4 October 2017|work=BBC Sport|date=4 August 2001}}</ref> He scored his first goals for Celtic when he scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 win over [[Dundee United]] on 20 October 2001.<ref>{{cite news |date=20 October 2001 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/1606500.stm |title=Hartson hat-trick floors United |work=BBC Sport |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref> At the end of his first season at Celtic he helped them win the [[Scottish Premier League]] title.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/1912027.stm |title=Five-star Celtic claim title |publisher=BBC |date=6 April 2002 |access-date=19 April 2020}}</ref>

In December 2002, Hartson scored as Celtic were beaten 2–1 in the away leg of their third round UEFA Cup tie against Celta Vigo. However, with the aggregate score 2–2, Celtic progressed on the [[away goals rule]]. This was the first time that Celtic had remained in European competition after Christmas since 1980.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/uefa_cup/2520239.stm|title=First blood to Celtic|website=BBC.com|date=28 November 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2002/dec/13/uefa.sport1|title=Hartson hammer blow ends Spanish hoodoo|website=The Guardian.com|date=13 December 2002}}</ref> In March 2003, Celtic faced Liverpool in the UEFA Cup at the quarter final stage, drawing 1–1 in Glasgow.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/2836319.stm|title=Liverpool hold Celtic|website=BBC.co.uk|date=13 March 2003}}</ref>
In the return leg at Anfield, Hartson fired the club's goal of the season with a strike past Jerzy Dudek into the top corner from over 25 yards out. Celtic won this match 2–0, progressing to the semi-final.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/2864921.stm|title=Celtic brush aside Liverpool|website=BBC.co.uk|date=20 March 2003}}</ref> After scoring the winning goal against [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]] at [[Ibrox Stadium|Ibrox]] in late April Hartson was plagued by a back injury which meant he missed the rest of the season, including the [[2003 UEFA Cup Final]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/2974545.stm |title=Celtic re-ignite title fight |publisher=BBC |date=27 April 2003 |access-date=19 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2003/may/18/newsstory.uefa |title='Devastated' Hartson misses Celtic's big night  |publisher=Guardian |date=18 May 2003 |access-date=19 April 2020}}</ref> Nevertheless, he had played a major role in getting Celtic all the way through the tournament, with his goals in Liverpool and Vigo, as well as several assists. Celtic were defeated 3–2 in the final after extra time by José Mourinho's FC Porto.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/3043029.stm |title=Porto end Celtic's Uefa dream |publisher=BBC |date=21 May 2003 |access-date=19 April 2020}}</ref>

In March 2004, he dropped out for the remainder of the football season for surgery to his back; however, he recovered in time for Wales' unsuccessful qualifying campaign for the [[2006 FIFA World Cup|2006 World Cup]]. Celtic went on to win the [[2004 Scottish Cup Final|2003–04 Scottish Cup]] and the [[2003–04 Scottish Premier League|2003-04]] title in his absence.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/3630511.stm |title=Celtic win Scottish title |publisher=BBC |date=18 April 2004 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/may/18/newsstory.sport1 |title=Douglas to miss cup final|publisher=Guardian |date=18 May 2004 |access-date=15 April 2020}}</ref>

In April 2005 he shared the Scottish PFA Players' Player of the Year award with [[Fernando Ricksen]] and in May he was voted the [[Scottish Football Writers' Association|Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year]].<ref name=PFA /><ref name=SFWA /> He played as Celtic won the [[2005 Scottish Cup Final]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_div_1/4586123.stm |title=Celtic 1-0 Dundee United |publisher=BBC |date=28 May 2005 |access-date=19 April 2020}}</ref>

On 6 November 2005 Hartson scored his 100th goal for [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] against [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/4403858.stm|title=Falkirk 0–3 Celtic|website=BBC.co.uk|date=6 November 2005}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2005/1106/197975-celtic/|title=Hartson reaches 100 mark|website=RTE.ie}}</ref> He missed Celtic's victory in the [[2006 Scottish League Cup Final]] through suspension.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/4675522.stm|title=Hartson accepts final suspension  |publisher=BBC |date=2 February 2006 |access-date=19 April 2020}}</ref> He scored the only goal against [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]], on 5 April 2006, his 31st birthday to clinch the title for Celtic.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/4873944.stm|title=Celtic 1–0 Hearts|website=BBC.co.uk|date=5 April 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2334858/Celtic-celebrate-Hartsons-party-trick.html|title=Celtic celebrate Hartson's party trick|website=Telegraph.co.uk|date=6 April 2006 }}</ref>

Hartson was sent off on a number of occasions, one being a notable dismissal towards the end of an [[Old Firm]] derby, when he was sent off for violent conduct along with [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] teammate [[Johan Mjällby]] and Rangers player [[Fernando Ricksen]]. Hartson's dismissal was overturned on appeal.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_prem/1939522.stm|title=Old Firm end all square |publisher=BBC |date=21 April 2002 |access-date=19 April 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/1946146.stm |title=Celtic mount appeal over red card |publisher=BBC |date=24 April 2002 |access-date=19 April 2020}}</ref>

Due to the close bond Hartson felt with both Celtic Football Club and their fans, he has a tattoo of a large Celtic crest on his upper arm with the words '[[You'll Never Walk Alone]]' underneath in honour of the song which Celtic fans sing ahead of big games. After a picture of the tattoo appeared on the internet and many Celtic F.C. forums, Hartson tweeted that the tattoo was real and in honour of the support he had received from Celtic fans during his illness. The tweet read, "Yes my Celtic tattoo is real I had it done soon as I came out of hospital after the support I was given by the whole Celtic family."<ref name=CelticTweet>{{cite web|title=JohnHartson10|url=https://twitter.com/JohnHartson10/statuses/148847730989596672|publisher=Twitter|access-date=31 March 2012}}</ref>

===West Bromwich Albion===
On 26 June 2006, Hartson signed a two-year contract with English [[Football League Championship]] side West Bromwich Albion in a £500,000 move.<ref>{{cite news |date=26 June 2006 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/5088034.stm |title=Hartson completes West Brom move |work=BBC Sport |access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=27 June 2006 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/5092302.stm |title=Hartson hints at Wales comeback |work=BBC Sport |access-date=26 April 2007}}</ref> Hartson scored twice on his Albion debut in a 2–0 Hawthorns win against Hull City on 5 August 2006.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 August 2006 |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/eng_div_1/5226766.stm |title= West Brom 2–0 Hull |work=BBC Sport |access-date=2 July 2007}}</ref>

On 31 August 2007, ''[[The Times]]'' said that Hartson had signed for [[Football League One|League One]] club [[Nottingham Forest]] on a loan move. On 5 September 2007, the ''[[Western Mail (Wales)|Western Mail]]'' reported that Hartson had rejected a firm approach from Forest and was on the verge of signing for his hometown club [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] on loan. However the club quickly issued a statement on its website denying the striker was set to sign.

In October 2007 Hartson joined [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] on a month's loan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hartson moves to Norwich on loan |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/league_of_wales/7042032.stm |work=BBC Sport |date=12 October 2007 |access-date=12 October 2007}}</ref> Although Norwich had the option to extend the loan until 31 December, newly appointed manager [[Glenn Roeder]] decided to send Hartson back to the Midlands after the initial month period.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hartson returns to Baggies |url=http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0,,10355~1162827,00.html |publisher=Norwich City F.C. |date=8 November 2007 |access-date=8 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071222024310/http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetails/0%2C%2C10355~1162827%2C00.html |archive-date=22 December 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> He then rejected an offer to join [[Chester City F.C.|Chester City]] on loan.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hartson turns down Chester |url=http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/chester-city/2007/11/22/hartson-turns-down-chester-100252-20144869/ |date=22 November 2007 |access-date=28 December 2007}}</ref> In January 2008 Hartson was released by West Bromwich Albion, six months before the end of his contract.<ref>{{Cite news | title = Baggies pay up Hartson's contract | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/7218185.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 30 January 2008 | access-date = 30 January 2008}}</ref>

On 7 February 2008, Hartson announced his retirement from football, citing his long-term struggles with weight and fitness as major reasons for finishing his career.<ref>{{cite news | title = Hartson brings career to an end | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/7218185.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 7 February 2008 | access-date = 7 February 2008}}</ref>

==International career==
Hartson won 51 first team caps for [[Wales national football team|Wales]], scoring 14 goals. He is currently the 11th highest scorer of all time for the Welsh.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/wal-recintlp.html|title=Wales – Record International Players|website=RSSSF.com}}</ref>

He also holds a record for the [[Wales national under-21 football team|Wales U21]] team by being one of only four people to have scored a hat-trick at that level alongside [[Craig Davies (footballer)|Craig Davies]], [[Lee Jones (footballer, born 1973)|Lee Jones]] and [[Ched Evans]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/5004556.stm|title=Wales U21 5–1 Estonia U21|website=BBC.co.uk|date=24 May 2006}}</ref>

Hartson retired from international football in February 2006 in order to concentrate on his career with Celtic<ref>{{Cite news | title = Hartson retires from Wales duties | url = https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/4686766.stm | publisher = BBC Sport | date = 6 February 2006 | access-date = 2 March 2008}}</ref> but in August that year he stated that he would come out of retirement to play if [[John Toshack]] needed him.

==Media career==
Just a few weeks after his retirement from playing, [[East Stirlingshire F.C.|East Stirlingshire]] in the [[Scottish Football League Third Division]] offered Hartson the chance to succeed [[Gordon Wylde]] as manager, but Hartson rejected the opportunity, saying that, "the timing is just not right for me at the moment."<ref>{{cite news|title=Hartson rejects Shire manager job|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/e/east_stirlingshire/7273731.stm|work=BBC Sport|date=3 March 2008|access-date=3 March 2008}}</ref> Hartson joined [[Setanta Sports]] as a pundit for the [[2008–09 in Scottish football|2008–09 season]], as part of the broadcaster's coverage of the [[Scottish Premier League]].<ref>{{cite news|title=John Hartson|url=http://sport.setanta.com/en/Blogs/A-to-Z-of-Bloggers/John-Hartson/?facets/blog-space/great-britain-locale/John-Hartson/|publisher=[[Setanta Sports]]|access-date=25 September 2008}}{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> A [[Welsh language|Welsh]] speaker, Hartson appears regularly as a studio guest on [[S4C]]'s ''[[Sgorio]]''.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Feast of Football on S4C|url=http://www.s4c.co.uk/e_press_level2.shtml?id=226|publisher=S4C|date=20 August 2008}}</ref> He was also a regular pundit on [[ITV (TV channel)|ITV]]'s coverage of the [[FA Cup]] until ITV lost the rights to the competition at the end of the 2013/14 season, and often appears on [[BBC Radio 5 Live]]'s coverage of both Premier League and Champions League games as a match summariser. In 2011 Hartson was appointed part-time coach with [[Newport County F.C.|Newport County]].<ref>news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/n/newport_county/9377751.stm</ref> In 2016, he joined [[BT Sport]] to provide analysis on the newly launched [[BT Sport Score]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/pundit-john-hartson-pins-blame-12372554|title=John Hartson pins the blame on Swansea City owners in live TV speech|date=26 December 2016}}</ref>
John also appeared in the Welsh language travel interest program Am Dro (Going for a Walk)[https://www.s4c.cymru/en/entertainment/am-dro/] broadcast on 1 January 2024

==Personal life==
In July 2009 Hartson received [[chemotherapy]] after being diagnosed with [[testicular cancer]] which had [[metastasis|spread]] to his brain.<ref name="Hartson facing cancer treatment">{{cite news |title=Hartson facing cancer treatment |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8147852.stm |work=BBC News |date=13 July 2009 |access-date=13 July 2009}}</ref> It was later reported the cancer had spread to his lungs and that he remained in a "critical condition" following emergency surgery.<ref name="Hartson told cancer also in lungs">{{cite news
|title=Hartson told cancer also in lungs |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8151728.stm |work=BBC News |date=15 July 2009 |access-date=15 July 2009}}</ref> The treatment was successful and by December of that year it was reported that the cancer had been virtually eradicated from Hartson's body although he would have more surgery and treatment to come.<ref>{{cite news|title= Ex-footballer John Hartson's relief at cancer news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/8394822.stm|work=BBC News|date=4 December 2009|access-date=4 December 2009}}</ref> Hartson is a lifelong [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] supporter.<ref>{{cite news|title= Swansea a 'special club' says John Hartson |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/13588963|work=BBC News|date=29 May 2011|access-date=6 October 2013}}</ref>

In February 2024, Hartson was probed by the [[Advertising Standards Authority (United Kingdom)|Advertising Standards Authority]] for misconduct while promoting and advertising Supreme CBD, owned by  ex-boxer [[Anthony Fowler]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.asa.org.uk/rulings/supreme-cbd-ltd-g23-1198642-supreme-cbd-ltd.html|title=ASA Ruling on Supreme CBD Ltd t/a Supreme CBD|publisher=Advertising Standards Authority| date= 14 February 2024| accessdate=12 August 2024}}</ref>  Fowler along with other celebrities including [[Paul Merson]], [[Matt Le Tissier]] and John Hartson have all been investigated and issued with a warning by the ASA.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cityam.com/england-footballers-probed-by-advertising-watchdog-over-promotion-of-supreme-cbd/|title=England footballers probed by advertising watchdog over promotion of Supreme CBD|first=Frank|last=Dalleres|date=25 July 2023|work=City A.M.|location=London, England}}</ref>  The ASA investigation concluded that their social media posts have been found to be commercial in nature, and not "honest" opinions about the benefits of CBD, since they were being financially rewarded for their posts. The investigation also concluded that the posts made by these celebrities were making unlawful medical claims about the use of CBD, which is  prohibited by the  [[Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/freedom-of-information-responses-from-the-mhra-week-commencing-4-april-2022/freedom-of-information-request-on-regulating-cbd-products-foi-22567|title=Freedom of Information request on regulating CBD products (FOI 22/567)|publisher=UK MHRA|date = 8 April 2022 |accessdate=12 August 2024}}</ref>

==Career statistics==

===Club===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.world-soccer.org/p-05353.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090126091747/http://www.world-soccer.org/p-05353.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=26 January 2009 |title=John Hartson |publisher=World-soccer.org |access-date=13 July 2009 }}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season
!colspan="3"|League
!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes [[FA Cup]], [[Scottish Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|League cup{{efn|Includes [[Football League Cup]], [[Scottish League Cup]]}}
!colspan="2"|Europe
!colspan="2"|Total
|-
!Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
|[[1992–93 Luton Town F.C. season|1992–93]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Football League First Division|First Division]]
|0||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||0||0
|-
|[[1993–94 Luton Town F.C. season|1993–94]]
|34||6||5||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||39||7
|-
|[[1994–95 Luton Town F.C. season|1994–95]]
|20||5||1||1||0||0||colspan="2"|–||21||6
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!54!!11!!6!!2!!0!!0!!0!!0!!60!!13
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
|[[1994–95 Arsenal F.C. season|1994–95]]
|rowspan="3"|[[Premier League]]
|15||7||0||0||0||0||7{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]]}}||1||22||8
|-
|[[1995–96 Arsenal F.C. season|1995–96]]
|19||4||1||0||3||1||colspan="2"|–||23||5
|-
|[[1996–97 Arsenal F.C. season|1996–97]]
|19||3||2||1||3||0||2{{efn|Appearances in [[UEFA Cup]]}}||0||26||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!53!!14!!3!!1!!6!!1!!9!!1!!71!!17
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
|[[1996–97 West Ham United F.C. season|1996–97]]
|rowspan="3"|Premier League
|11||5||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||colspan="2"|–||11||5
|-
|[[1997–98 West Ham United F.C. season|1997–98]]
|32||15||5||3||5||6||colspan="2"|–||42||24
|-
|[[1998–99 West Ham United F.C. season|1998–99]]
|17||4||2||0||1||0||colspan="2"|–||20||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!60!!24!!7!!3!!6!!6!!0!!0!!73!!33
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]]
|[[1998–99 FA Premier League|1998–99]]
|rowspan="2"|Premier League
|14||2||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||14||2
|-
|[[1999–2000 FA Premier League|1999–2000]]
|16||9||1||0||3||0||colspan="2"|–||20||9
|-
|[[2000–01 Football League|2000–01]]
|First Division
|19||8||0||0||4||2||colspan="2"|–||23||10
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!49!!19!!1!!0!!7!!2!!0!!0!!57!!21
|-
|[[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
|[[2000–01 Coventry City F.C. season|2000–01]]
|Premier League
|12||6||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||12||6
|-
|rowspan="6"|[[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]]
|[[2001–02 Celtic F.C. season|2001–02]]
|rowspan="5"|[[Scottish Premier League]]
|31||19||3||2||3||3||5{{efn|Three appearances in [[UEFA Champions League]], two appearances in UEFA Cup}}||0||42||24
|-
|[[2002–03 Celtic F.C. season|2002–03]]
|27||18||2||2||4||2||12{{efn|One appearance in UEFA Champions League, eleven appearances and three goals in UEFA Cup}}||3||45||25
|-
|[[2003–04 Celtic F.C. season|2003–04]]
|15||8||1||1||0||0||7{{efn|name=UCL}}||1||23||10
|-
|[[2004–05 Celtic F.C. season|2004–05]]
|38||25||5||3||1||1||6{{efn|name=UCL|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}||1||50||30
|-
|[[2005–06 Celtic F.C. season|2005–06]]
|35||18||1||0||3||1||2{{efn|name=UCL}}||1||41||20
|-
!colspan="2"|Total
!146!!88!!12!!8!!11!!7!!32!!6!!201!!109
|-
|[[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
|[[2006–07 West Bromwich Albion F.C. season|2006–07]]
|[[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|21||5||1||1||2||0||colspan="2"|–||24||6
|-
|[[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] (loan)
|[[2007–08 Norwich City F.C. season|2007–08]]
|Championship
|4||0||0||0||0||0||colspan="2"|–||4||0
|-
!colspan="3"|Career total
!399!!167!!30!!15!!32!!16!!41!!7!!502!!205
|}
{{notelist}}

===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{NFT|7263}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="11"|[[Wales national football team|Wales]]
|1995||4||0
|-
|1996||3||0
|-
|1997||4||1
|-
|1998||3||1
|-
|1999||4||0
|-
|2000||2||0
|-
|2001||6||4
|-
|2002||7||2
|-
|2003||7||3
|-
|2004||5||3
|-
|2005||6||0
|-
!colspan="2"|Total!!51!!14
|}

==Honours==
'''Arsenal'''<ref name=Soccerway>{{cite web|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/john-hartson/20671/|title=John Hartson|website=Soccerway.com}}</ref>
*[[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup]] runner-up: [[1994–95 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|1994–95]]

'''Celtic'''<ref name=Eurosport>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurosport.com/football/john-hartson_prs5308/person.shtml|title=John Hartson|website=Eurosport.com}}</ref>
*[[Scottish Premier League]]: [[2001–02 Scottish Premier League|2001–02]], [[2003–04 Scottish Premier League|2003–04]], [[2005–06 Scottish Premier League|2005–06]]
*[[Scottish Cup]]: [[2003–04 Scottish Cup|2003–04]], [[2004–05 Scottish Cup|2004–05]]
*[[Scottish League Cup]]: [[2005–06 Scottish League Cup|2005–06]]

'''Individual'''
*[[Welsh Footballer of the Year]]: 1998, 2001, 2003<ref name=Feature>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/international/john-hartson-hartson-determined-to-pass-his-biggest-test-78393.html|title=John Hartson: Hartson determined to pass his biggest test|website=Independent.co.uk|date=15 November 2003}}</ref>
*[[PFA Scotland Players' Player of the Year]]: 2005<ref name=PFA>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/ricksen-and-hartson-share-player-of-the-year-prize-1-709026|title=Ricksen and Hartson share Player of the Year prize|website=Scotsman.com}}</ref>
*[[SFWA Footballer of the Year]]: 2005<ref name=SFWA>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/scotpoy.html|title=Scotland – Player of the Year|website=RSSSF.com}}</ref>
*[[Football Association of Ireland|FAI]] International Personality: 2016<ref name=FAI>{{cite web|url=https://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/2017/0319/860963-robbie-brady-crowned-fai-player-of-the-year/|title=Robbie Brady crowned FAI player of the year|website=RTE.ie|date=19 March 2017}}</ref>

==References==
;General
* {{cite book
 | last = Hartson
 | first = John
 | title = The Autobiography
 | orig-year = 2006
 | edition = Paperback
 | publisher = [[Orion Publishing Group]]
 | year = 2007
 | isbn = 978-0-7528-8158-4}}

;Specific
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://mobile.twitter.com/JohnHartson10?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor John Hartson on Twitter]
* {{Soccerbase}}
* [http://www.fitbastats.com/celtic/player.php?playerid=2885 Playing Record at Celtic] at [http://www.fitbastats.com/ FitbaStats]

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards
|fg = navy
|bg= gold
|list1=
{{Welsh Footballer of the Year}}
{{SPL topscorers}}
{{SPFA Players' Player of the Year}}
{{SFWA Footballer of the Year}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hartson, John}}
[[Category:1975 births]]
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[[Category:Footballers from Swansea]]
[[Category:Welsh men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football forwards]]
[[Category:Luton Town F.C. players]]
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[[Category:Newport County A.F.C. non-playing staff]]
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