John Hartson was born on 5 April 1975 and is a Welsh former professional footballer, coach and sports television pundit for S4C, Sky Sports, Premier Sports TV and BT Sport.
34 Facts About John Hartson
2.
John Hartson earned 51 international caps for Wales, scoring 14 goals.
3.
John Hartson later held the position of head coach for Wales's strikers.
4.
John Hartson was born on 5 April 1975 in Swansea, the third of four children to Cyril and Diana Hartson.
5.
John Hartson grew up in Talycoppa, Swansea, alongside his elder brother James, elder sister Hayley and younger sister Victoria.
6.
John Hartson joined 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.
7.
John Hartson was suspended and sent home to Swansea but was reinstated by Luton shortly afterwards and allowed to resume his apprenticeship.
8.
John Hartson was strike-partner to Ian Wright, being favoured ahead of Kevin Campbell to fill the gap left by the injured Alan Smith, who retired at the end of the season.
9.
In total, John Hartson played 53 times for Arsenal, scoring 14 goals.
10.
John Hartson made his debut for West Ham on 15 February 1997 alongside another new signing, Paul Kitson.
11.
John Hartson was the second highest scorer, behind Andy Cole in the Premier League in that season.
12.
John Hartson was fined and admitted in his biography that it was an error of judgement.
13.
John Hartson played 73 times and scored 33 goals for the east London club.
14.
John Hartson instead joined Coventry City on a pay-for-play deal in February 2001.
15.
John Hartson made his Coventry debut against former club West Ham on 12 February 2001.
16.
John Hartson went on to score six goals in twelve league games, including a brace in a defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.
17.
John Hartson made his debut on 4 August 2001, coming on as a substitute in a league match away at Kilmarnock.
18.
John Hartson played as Celtic won the 2005 Scottish Cup Final.
19.
On 6 November 2005 John Hartson scored his 100th goal for Celtic against Falkirk.
20.
John Hartson missed Celtic's victory in the 2006 Scottish League Cup Final through suspension.
21.
John Hartson scored the only goal against Hearts, on 5 April 2006, his 31st birthday to clinch the title for Celtic.
22.
John 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 teammate Johan Mjallby and Rangers player Fernando Ricksen.
23.
On 31 August 2007, The Times said that John Hartson had signed for League One club Nottingham Forest on a loan move.
24.
On 5 September 2007, the Western Mail reported that John Hartson had rejected a firm approach from Forest and was on the verge of signing for his hometown club Swansea City on loan.
25.
In October 2007 John Hartson joined Norwich City on a month's loan.
26.
John Hartson then rejected an offer to join Chester City on loan.
27.
In January 2008 John Hartson was released by West Bromwich Albion, six months before the end of his contract.
28.
On 7 February 2008, John Hartson announced his retirement from football, citing his long-term struggles with weight and fitness as major reasons for finishing his career.
29.
John Hartson won 51 first team caps for Wales, scoring 14 goals.
30.
John Hartson is currently the 11th highest scorer of all time for the Welsh.
31.
John Hartson holds a record for the Wales U21 team by being one of only four people to have scored a hat-trick at that level alongside Craig Davies, Lee Jones and Ched Evans.
32.
Hartson retired from international football in February 2006 in order to concentrate on his career with Celtic but in August that year he stated that he would come out of retirement to play if John Toshack needed him.
33.
In 2011 John Hartson was appointed part-time coach with Newport County.
34.
In July 2009 John Hartson received chemotherapy after being diagnosed with testicular cancer which had spread to his brain.