When Joe Hart won the Premier League's Golden Glove award this past season, he officially became the most decorated player in the award's history. Granted, the Golden Glove prize has only been around since the 2004 2005 season-when Petr Cech won it for a 21-clean sheet season. But while Cech has won the award twice more since then, Hart's 2014 2015 season brought him his fourth Premier League Golden Glove and gave him arguable bragging rights as the soccer division's greatest goalkeeper.

From Second Choice to Best

Standing at six feet, five inches, the 28-year-old Hart certainly cuts a dominating figure in the net. He's been signed with Manchester City for nine years this fall, and has made a nice round 300 appearances for the football club in that time. That number would be higher, were in not for the loan stints Hart served with the Tranmere Rovers and Blackpool (in 2006 2007) and Birmingham City (in 2009 2010).

The loan season with Birmingham City had to be particularly cutting for Hart, who at that point had served as Man City's number one goalkeeper for two consecutive seasons. Upon the arrival of Irish keeper Shay Given-who came to the Sky Blues after spending 12 successful years at Newcastle United-Hart lost his number one slot, and was loaned to Birmingham for the year.

Rather than be discouraged, Hart put his nose to the grindstone and improved dramatically during his season with Birmingham City. He was a major component of a 12-game unbeaten run in the middle of the season, and ultimately earned the football club's Player of the Year award. He was also nominated for PFA Young Player of the Year, though the award ultimately went to James Milner.

Needless to say, Man City manager Roberto Mancini wanted to bring Hart back to Etihad Stadium for the 2010 2011 season. It was the right choice: Hart took over the number one spot from Shay Given, kept 18 clean sheets, won his first Golden Glove award, and pushed the Sky Blues to a third-place finish in the Premier League-their highest result in the soccer division since 1977.

A Golden Age

Joe Hart's ascendance as a goalkeeper was arguably the defining moment in Manchester City's climb toward prominence in the Premier League. Since Hart returned to the football club from his stint at Birmingham City, the Sky Blues haven't finished outside of the division's top three. They won two titles (in 2012 and 2014) and finished as runners-up in both 2013 and 2015.

Furthermore, Hart has won the Golden Glove award for four out of the five seasons that have taken place since his return to Etihad Stadium. After claiming the prize in 2010 2011, he won two more consecutive trophies in 2012 and 2013, keeping 17 and 18 clean sheets in those seasons, respectively.

In 2014 2015, though, it was right back to the top for Joe Hart, who clinched a record fourth Golden Glove prize. His clean sheet total for last season, of 14, is the lowest ever for a Golden Glove winner, suggesting that the Premier League is only becoming more competitive.

Still, Hart has been enjoying quite the golden age for his soccer career since the turn of the decade, and Manchester City fans have been reaping the benefits. Last season, he even earned the praise of the great Lionel Messi, after a round of 16 game with FC Barcelona during the Champions League. The Sky Blues ultimately lost the game 0-1, and were eliminated from the tournament as a result. Hart made 10 saves in the match, though-including a penalty kick from Lionel Messi himself-and was called a "phenomenon" who "saved everything" by the Argentine striker.

When Joe dons the Manchester City goalkeeper jersey 2015 2016 for the forthcoming season, will he be headed toward another world-class performance in the net? Could this be the year that he helps push his football club to a UCL victory? We'll find out soon, but for now, you can celebrate Hart by picking up a new 2015 2016 purple goalkeeper shirt, or other Manchester City kit from Soccer Box!