Anthony Brown - My Hearts XI
Formation - 3-4-3
ROUSSET
WEIR
PRESSLEY
WEBSTER
PATERSON
COLQUHOUN
HARTLEY
SKACEL
DE VRIES
CAMERON
ROBERTSON
Gilles Rousset - Craig Gordon is the best Hearts goalkeeper of my lifetime but Rousset - who wrote the foreword to my book - goes down as my personal favourite. Brought class and personality to the club, played a big part in kick-starting Jim Jefferies’ first spell in charge and had a brilliant rapport with the support.
David Weir - I just missed seeing Levein in his prime, so Weir goes down as the best ball-playing centre-back I’ve watched at Hearts. Pure class and also carried a goal threat.
Steven Pressley - His reputation may have been tarnished in the eyes of some by his antics when he returned to Tynecastle with Celtic but he remains one of the most wholehearted players - and the most impressive captain - I’ve ever seen at Hearts. A bedrock of the team during a brilliant period for Hearts, initially under Craig Levein and then George Burley.
Andrew Webster - Hearts have had so many quality centre-backs in my lifetime which is why I decided to shoehorn three of them into my team. Webster rarely looked flustered and edges out Paul Ritchie for the third slot in defence by virtue of the fact he excelled in two separate spells at the club. Magnificent player.
Callum Paterson - Given the team’s underwhelming form over the past decade, players from more modern times don’t tend to be so popular among supporters. Callum certainly bucks that trend. Hearts have had some good right-sided defenders over the years - Locke, Frail, McGowan and Smith spring to mind - but Paterson’s remarkable goal tally and his swashbuckling, all-action approach to the position give him the edge for me. In my 3-4-3 formation, he can occupy the right-wing-back position, with freedom to attack.
Colin Cameron - A little buzzbomb of box-to-box brilliance with the energy to overrun opponents and chip in with plenty goals.
Paul Hartley - Hearts were massively fortunate that Hartley emerged as such an impressive midfield all-rounder so soon after Cameron’s departure. These two little cup-winning legends were similar in stature and in playing style so there is no guarantee they would actually function well as a partnership but I think every Hearts supporter would love the opportunity to see if they could have worked in perfect harmony.
Rudi Skacel - Fyssas, Naysmith and McCann would all have claims for the left-wing-back / left-mid berth but Skacel gets the nod due to his remarkable penchant for scoring when it mattered most. A deadly left-foot and second only to Robbo in terms of club legends of my lifetime.
John Colquhoun - My favourite player as a kid. Loved watching him attack left-backs with his shirt hanging out at the back. “Skin him, JC!”
John Robertson - Lethal and unrivalled. Impossible to leave out.
Mark De Vries - Not the most refined centre-forward Hearts have ever had but certainly among the most effective. A talismanic figure in Levein’s team of the early Noughties, his goals against Bordeaux and Braga stand out for me. A perfect partner for Robbo and would thrive on the service delivered from wide areas by Skacel and Colquhoun.
Keith Downie - My Hearts XI
Formation - 4-4-2
NIEMI
FLOGEL
PRESSLEY
LEVEIN
FYSSAS
SKACEL
CAMERON
HARTLEY
MCCANN
ROBERTSON
ADAM
Tough competition in the shape of Craig Gordon & Gilles Rousset. Despite Niemi never winning anything at the club, my abiding memory is of the Finn making save after save that defied logic.
I always felt he was too good for us, but I loved how humble he was about being the Hearts goalkeeper.
Slightly out of position at right back, but I actually enjoyed him playing there under Jim Jefferies. A class act in terms of ability and so versatile too.
I wanted my two full back bombing forward hence why I have opted for Flogel ahead of Alan Mclaren & Walter Kidd.
My mates used to always say I looked like Flogel when I was younger, plus he wore my lucky number 14.
The ultimate captain and would wear the armband in my side. Not blessed with great pace, but a true professional and loved the club.
It meant so much to him to lift the cup in 2006. He's also a great guy.
I remember interviewing him once as Falkirk manager & he sent me a text afterwards to thank me for coming to have a chat with him. Sometimes it's the little things.
I remember watching Craig Levein as a kid and marvelling at his ability on the ball for a defender.
My dad used to always say he was the best player he'd ever seen come through the ranks at Tynecastle & it was a crying shame that his career was cut short due to persistent knee injuries.
Was a toss-up between Levein & David Weir but Levein gets the nod due to childhood nostalgia.
What a brilliant two years at the club. This guy had the lot. How we managed to sign him I'll still never know.
Every aspect of his game was brilliant and he seemed such a great character around the club too.
He will go down as one of Hearts greatest ever signings.
Was a tough pick as I loved Gary Naysmith as well but Fyssas was world class.
I would play Rudi Skacel out on the right with the freedom to float inside & play off the strikers. This would also allow Flogel to overlap outside him.
This man was just brilliant for the club, could score from any angle & was always up for the big occasion.
I'll always remember celebrating his goal against Hibs on his home debut and appearing on the back pages of the national newspapers celebrating with my mates in the background
In that 2005/06 season Paul Hartley was something else. The hat-trick at Hampden was ridiculous & the way he took control of matches was a sight to behold.
He had a very old school style that I loved including even his running style & the way he tied his boots up.
Haunted Hibs time & time again & was at the peak of his powers while a Hearts player. Crazy to think he was a free transfer signing for Craig Levein.
Colin Cameron was a very similar player to Hartley so I hope they would gel together, but I couldn't leave him out.
His goals, his late runs & his cool penalty against Rangers in the Scottish Cup Final stand out & he was untouchable during the 1997/98 season.
A goal every three games from midfield is a superb return, and a great guy whenever I have met him since.
Neil McCann was another bargain signing for Jim Jefferies who went on to play at a top level both sides of the border.
Unplayable when running at defenders and struck up a great partnership with Colin Cameron.
Would have loved for him to stay longer & was gutted when he moved to Rangers but without doubt one of the finest players we have had at the club. Had so many goals and assists to his name during the 1997/98 season.
Robbo "The Hammer Of Hibs" was always a certainty to appear in my team. My hero growing up & an utter club legend.
His goals against Hibs, his goals against everyone, his passion for the badge.
My abiding memory is screaming for him to be brought off the bench during the 1998 Scottish Cup Final and then crying when he lifted the trophy.
Stephane Adam deserves his place in the team for his cup final goal alone, but did so much more during his time with the club.
Was happy to let others grab the headlines & went about his business with class. He was the perfect team player.
Bruce Cormack - My Hearts XI
Formation - 4-3-3
ROUSSET
MCLAREN
MCPHERSON
LEVEIN
MAHE
CAMERON
BETT
FULTON
COLQUHOUN
ROBERTSON
MCCANN
GK – Gilles Rousset. After the Cup Final in 96, to be superb in the 98 winning one – the side that got the monkey off our back, he’s in ahead of Smith, Niemi and Gordon. I claim he waved at me once too.
RB – Alan McLaren. Didn’t want to leave us and always a class act when he played for us. Great player.
CB – Craig Levein. Stylish, fast, strong, brave – all you want in a defender.
CB – Davie MacPherson – skilful, loved a mazy run, loved the battle and very deserving of his winners medal in 98.
LB – Stephane Mahe. Tough choices here to get ahead of Naysmith, Pointon, McKinlay…….but he was a very good player for us. Thought he’d be a liability for us but strong and surprisingly disciplined!!
CM – Jim Bett. Utter class – just strolled it. I worry we would be relegated if we didn’t have him during McLean’s tenure.
CM – Stevie Fulton – as above. Wand of a left foot and possibly the best midfielder in Scotland in 98 season.
CM – Colin Cameron – timing, pace, energy and goals. What a player.
RW- John Colquhoun – great guy, great player and scored possibly the best goal I’ve seen v Well in the Cup. Mazy dribbler and very brave.
LW – Neil McCann – could probably play anywhere from full back to behind the striker, up top and wide. Quick and good in the air for his size. Could whip in a cross……..
CF – Robbo. The link up play he had in his locker, the finishing (Stein said he was the best in his age group when training with young Scotland players), the nous……a great forward.