We’ve adapted our Most Memorable Teams feature from last season’s shows into artcle format. Craig Cairns brings you the first of the series.
Overview
Craig Levein had been in charge for a season-and-a-half before everything finally clicked into place for him. The Boys in Maroon embarked on a two year period where they were clearly the best side outside the top two. In fact, their back-to-back third place finishes would be the only time between 1995 and 2013 where a team outside Glasgow achieved consecutive top three finishes. They had a great chance to do it three years running before Levein left for Leicester City, taking two key players in Mark De Vries and Alan Maybury with him. These strong league finishes, along with some memorable nights in Europe, secure the inclusion of this side in our list. Only a string of poor cup runs stopped Levein’s Hearts from appearing higher than #25.
Iconic Moments
Levein’s first full season in charge will be remembered for the club re-establishing itself as, what was then, its perceived role as Scotland’s third club in a league relentlessly dominated by two sides. It would be the following season, in which they again finished third, where they would build upon their solidity and treat their supporters to many a DVD-worthy performance.
Hearts were unbeaten in all three derbies over the course of the 2002/03 season, but it was the manner in which each result came about that made them special. The first saw Mark De Vries become an instant hero with a haul on his home debut in a 5-1 victory. The next, at Easter Road, saw Hibs dominate and lead until the 86th minute until Kevin McKenna – a 6ft 4 Canadian centre-half, often thrust up front as Levein’s Plan B – levelled the scores. Phil Stamp then won the match in injury time, getting himself sent off for a second bookable offence for his celebration, but providing an iconic image of him giving a fist-pump to the Hearts support as he was ushered up the tunnel.
The third and final derby back at Tynecastle was a draw, yet it somehow managed to better both previous derbies combined and then multiplied by twenty. With the scores at 2-2, Hibs took the lead in the final minute then increased it further during the first minute of injury time. Tynecastle emptied, the only remaining Hearts supporters were too despondent to move, but then substitute Graham Weir somehow managed to score not one, but two goals in the fourth minute of injury time to round off an incredible last few minutes.
Manager
Appointed to replace Jim Jefferies during the 2000/01 season, Craig Levein managed Hearts for almost three years. In that time, he improved a team in steady decline since their Scottish Cup win in 1998 – their first for 42 years. Although this side isn’t memorable for any trophy success or overachievement in the league, Levein’s Hearts were known as a solid outfit that threw in the odd spectacular result and performance.
When Ricardo Fuller left the club, Levein eventually replaced him with Mark De Vries, who went on to be top scorer in both his two full season for the club. The quality of the other signings varied, though this was not helped by the collapse of the proposed SPL TV deal. For every Phil Stamp there was a Wilfred Oueifio and there were many whose form was erratic, such as Patrick Kisnorbo and Steven Boyack.
Levein did, however, spot a young Andy Webster playing for Arbroath and added late-bloomer Paul Hartley from St Johnstone – both of whom went on to become Scotland internationals and win two Scottish Cup winners medals each – while the likes of Craig Gordon and Christophe Berra made their progression from the youth set up. Antti Niemi had been sold to Southampton during the previous season, which allowed Gordon to eventually emerge as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper after his performance in Bordeaux.
Despite the achievements, off the field issues took their toll on a stressed Levein and in January 2005, he moved on to manage Leicester City in the English Championship after turning down the chance to join the Romanov Revolution about to ensue.
Player
After his debut at Dens Park, Mark de Vries turned out in front of the Tynecastle support for his home debut against their city rivals. It was to be one of those days for Hibs as the Dutch striker became an instant hero, putting four past a hapless Tony Caig. Had De Vries packed up and left Edinburgh the next day, never to be seen in Gorgie again, he’d have retained hero status amongst the Hearts support. As it turned out, he went on to become the focal point of Levein’s attack, scoring 34 goals in 90 appearances.
A typical Levein striker, the Dutchman was a 6ft 4 targetman who was strong in the air, could muscle opponents off the ball, as well as possessing the ability to finish – even if a little inconsistent. He struck up a good understanding with cult hero Andy Kirk – a quicker, more mobile striker –and his height was so vital to the way Levein liked to play, the towering Canadian Kevin McKenna, a central defender, was often used in his absence or as an alternative.
Defining Match
This team’s entry is not based a single cup run or league campaign. It is remembered more for its consistency and for some one-off results and performances, including one or two on the European stage. None more so than their 1-0 victory away to Bordeaux, where Hearts went into the tie as huge underdogs against the talented French side.
An heroic defensive performance from the back three (or five, or nine), coupled with a huge slice of luck; Craig Gordon establishing himself as Hearts’ future number one; Kevin McKenna winning a header from an attacking set-piece and a Mark de Vries goal won the tie for the visitors. As well as being a summary of that match, those few sentences aren’t too far from defining this Hearts side in a nutshell.
The magic moment arrived when, with 11 minutes remaining and the scores at 0-0, substitute Paul Hartley floated in a free kick which was met by the head of McKenna. That forced a tremendous save from Ulrich Ramé in the Bordeaux goal, but De Vries reacted quicker than the experienced goalkeeper to poke home the rebound.
Unfortunately, Hearts were knocked out in the return leg, which included one of the best goals ever scored at Tynecastle.
Best line up
Podcast
The Levein-era Hearts team was discussed at length by Craig Fowler, Tony Anderson and special guest Ross Pilcher in the podcast McDonald’s Ordering of an Angel. It can be listened to by clicking here and forwarding to 46 minutes, 4 seconds.
Written by Craig Cairns (@craigcairns001)