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Fullname: Conor William Hazard
aka: Conor Hazard
Born: 5 March 1998
Birthplace: Downpatrick, Northern Ireland
Signed: 2014 (youth); 8 Sep 2017 (signed 4 year contract)
Left: 11 July 2023 (est £150k to Plymouth Argyle)
Position: Goalkeeper
Debut: Celtic 3-2 Lille, Europa League, 10 Dec 2020
Squad No.: 65
Internationals: N Ireland
International Caps: 4 [complete at end of career]
Biog
Some players end up reliving their sporting careers around one single game, and that could unwittingly be the case for Conor Hazard.
The Northern Ireland U21 goalkeeper Conor Hazard was a Cliftonville Academy product.
The young Conor Hazard won his debut in December 2020 v Lille in the Europa League, an unwelcome time to have a debut due to Covid (so an empty stadium) and a misfiring Celtic on a no-win streak over the past six games (including 5 defeats). Keepers ahead of him in the queue were sidelined as they were reckoned to be performing below par (Barkas & Bain). This match v Lille was a dead rubber as Celtic were already well out, but it gave some fringe players a chance and they all took it well in a 3-2 victory with Conor Hazard despite conceding two goals getting plaudits for some fine saves.
A solid debut made many wonder why millions were spent on a keeper when this youth prospect was waiting for his chance in the wings. Lennon had said: “I spoke to Hazard a couple of weeks ago. He’s been excellent in training and I told him he’d get his chance”, and as a measure of how much his debut meant to him, he contacted his old loan side (Dundee) to thank them for all they had done for him to help him get here so far.
He was to win a place soon after in the delayed 2019/20 Scottish Cup final v Hearts, which was to end up having very different extreme emotions for Hazard. This was a vital match for Celtic to create history, and complete the unprecedented quadruple treble, and this was his sole part in that long incredible sequence. The match finished 2-2 after 90mins and 3-3 after extra-time, so a difficult one for him with the conceding of three goals.
So he had to step up for the penalty kicks, and in turn became an unexpected hero, saving two penalties. A reminder this was only his third match ever for Celtic. He was now part of Celtic history, and deserved plaudits. The only problem was that due to covid and a then underperforming Celtic, the celebrations for the quadruple treble were relatively muted for such an incredible occasion, but he was going to be able to live off this moment for evermore, and deservedly. Maybe the defining one for his career.
Despite the good words that followed, he was soon back in the line behind Bain & Barkas, but he was young and had time on his hands. Celtic collapsed in season 2020/21, and much was changing across the board. Both the team manager and club chief executive were replaced for the new season ahead.
Former England international Joe Hart was brought in for season 2021/22 which made opportunities even harder for Hazard who was becoming less visible to the general support.
He was sent on loan to HJK Helsinki for 2022 to help him win top tier game time. He was to go up against Roma, Ludogorets and Real Betis in this season’s Europa League. A brilliant test for the goalkeeper, after helping HJK Helsinki achieve qualification to this seasons tournament, but also helped them seal another league title win.
He was soon crowned as their player of the year by Forza HJK, HJK’s supporters’ association. Among their goalkeepers, only one other had received the award before. Another measure of his success was that he made more saves than any other goalkeeper in that seasons Europa League Group Stages. Hazard made more saves at HJK Helsinki than the likes of David De Gea, Walter Benítez & Rui Patrício.
However, he returned back to Celtic in 2023, but was still well back in line for a first team slot, although remained the keeper for his national side.
It was no surprise therefore when he opted to move in July 2023 to Plymouth Argyle for first team action for an estimated £150,000.
He left with a decent record with Celtic, and will have the good fortune to deservedly live off that Scottish Cup final v Hearts for the rest of his days, his two saves during the penalty kicks helped seal history. He deserved that honour.
We wished him the very best.
Post-Celtic
[….]
Quotes
Dundee boss James McPake has revealed that goalkeeper Conor Hazard called him after making his Celtic debut against Lille.
Hazard spent last season on loan at Dens Park and McPake said: “He’d played in Europe but he picked up the phone and thanked myself, Bobby and all the staff here at Dundee for everything we did for him. That’s a class act from a classy person.”
From the Scotsman & The Courier (Dec 2020)
“Not many people in the world get to put on the Celtic jersey,”
Conor Hazard (2021)
https://thecelticstar.com/not-many-people-in-the-world-get-to-put-on-the-celtic-jersey-conor-hazard
Celtic loanee Conor Hazard is Forza #HJK Player of the Year! Forza HJK is HJK’s supporters’ association, whose members annually vote for the player of the year from both the women’s and men’s teams. Among goalkeepers, only Ville Wallén has received the award before. (link https://twitter.com/hjkhelsinki/status/1582298565069922304)
Playing Career
| APPEARANCES (subs) |
LEAGUE | SCOTTISH CUP | LEAGUE CUP | EUROPE | TOTAL |
| 2019-20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Shut-outs | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020-21 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
| Shut-outs | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Total | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Shut-outs | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
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