2006–07 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season

Season Overview

Main article: Vladimir Romanov's ownership of Heart of Midlothian F.C.

Following an indifferent start to their League campaign, head coach Valdas Ivanauskas took a sabbatical from his role on 23 October. Club owner Vladimir Romanov, who stated "I have full confidence in Valdas and look forward to his return", appointed the club's sporting director, Eduard Malofeev, as interim head coach. Further off-field disruption ensued four days later when Romanov warned his players that they would all be put up for sale if Hearts did not win their match against Dunfermline Athletic the next day. Captain Steven Pressley, flanked by senior players Paul Hartley and Craig Gordon, responded with a statement voicing the players' unhappiness at affairs at the club, stating in a pre-match media conference ahead of Dunfermline's visit that there was "significant unrest" in the dressing room. The game was drawn 1–1.

The repercussions from the press conference stretched over several months and eventually led to the departure from the club of two of the so-called Riccarton Three. Pressley was dropped for a match against Falkirk on 13 November and named as an unused substitute for a 1–0 defeat by Rangers on 19 November. Hartley was only used as a substitute in the former game. Pressley eventually left Hearts on 9 December, with accompanying press releases stating that this was an amicable agreement. He joined rivals Celtic on 1 January 2007 and captained his new squad to a 2–1 victory at Tynecastle on his first return to Edinburgh. Hartley also moved to Celtic during January 2007, in a £1.1 million transfer on 31 January. This only left Gordon, who was dropped for matches away to Dundee United and Rangers in December and January respectively, as the only member of the trio to remain at Hearts beyond the January transfer window.

Hearts failed to win a game under the management of Eduard Malofeev, who took control during Ivanauskas' sabbatical. Hearts lost at Celtic and Hibernian – a result which eliminated Hearts from the Scottish League Cup – and at home to Rangers. He remained as caretaker manager until late November 2006 when, despite media reports anticipating the appointment of Eugenijus Riabovas, Ivanauskas returned to resume his duties as club manager.

A 1–0 loss in the Scottish Cup at Dunfermline on 3 February 2007, with Gordon on the bench, ended Hearts' chance to retain the trophy. Later that month, Ivanauskas was moved to a director of football role, with director of football Anatoly Korobochka assuming the role of interim head coach on 2 March. An improved run of form towards the end of the season witnessed Hearts challenge Aberdeen for third spot in the League and UEFA Cup qualification. The Dons scored a last minute equaliser in a head-to-head confrontation between the two teams at Tynecastle in May, and eventually finished four points clear in third place.

Results and fixtures

Pre-season / Friendlies

Hearts travelled to Austria for a pre-season tour. Bešlija Mikoliūnas Tall Bešlija

Scottish Premier League

Main article: 2006–07 Scottish Premier League

Pospíšil Mole Driver
Aguiar Pinilla Mikoliūnas Mäkelä Hartley Mole Killen Wales Gordon Žaliūkas Quinn Velička Aguiar Jankauskas Mikoliūnas Shiels Jarošík Craigan Hunt Ferguson Driver Pospíšil Driver

Scottish League Cup

Main article: 2006–07 Scottish League Cup

Aguiar

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2006–07 Scottish Cup

Bednář

UEFA Champions League

Main article: 2006–07 UEFA Champions League

Hearts played their home 2006/2007 European Champions League games at Murrayfield Stadium, rather than in their home ground Tynecastle. A combination of Tynecastle falling short of UEFA requirements in terms of pitch size and hospitality facilities, and Murrayfield's greater capacity, meant that Murrayfield was the preferred choice for the Tynecastle board. Hearts won their second round qualifying tie against Bosnian champions Široki Brijeg 3–0 on aggregate, but were defeated 5–1 on aggregate by AEK Athens in the final qualifying round. The Greek side won 2–1 at Murrayfield due to two late goals and then won 3–0 in the Athens Olympic Stadium. Hearts had one player (Bruno Aguiar) sent off in the first leg and two players (Julien Brellier and Neil McCann) sent off in the second leg.

Second qualifying round

Tall Bednář

Third qualifying round

Berra Tall Liberopoulos

UEFA Cup

Main article: 2006–07 UEFA Cup

The loss in the final qualifying round meant that Hearts dropped into the UEFA Cup first round against Sparta Prague. In this competition they lost 2–0 at a muddy Murrayfield in the first leg and they were eliminated after a 0–0 draw in Prague in the return leg on 28 September 2006.

First round

Matušovič

First team player statistics

Squad information

:Last updated 20 May 2007 During the 2006–07 campaign, Hearts used thirty-seven players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.

Team statistics

League table

Management statistics

:Last updated 20 May 2007

Transfers

On the eve of the SPL season, Hearts announced the capture of Chile striker Mauricio Pinilla on a season-long loan. PAOK's Christos Karipidis and Tiago Costa, a full back from Benfica B were also signed, while in the final week of the transfer window three further Lithuanian players – Marius Žaliūkas, Kęstutis Ivaškevičius and Andrius Velička – joined on loan from FBK Kaunas. Hearts fans still anticipated the arrival of "two World Cup stars" but were left disappointed when the club announced that the final piece of business of the transfer window would be to sign the previously-loaned striker Roman Bednář on a permanent deal.

Players in

Players out

Loans in

Loans out

References

References

1. (23 October 2006). "Ivanauskas to take two-week break". BBC Sport.
2. (27 October 2006). "Romanov issues player ultimatum". BBC Sport.
3. Riccarton being the location of Hearts training ground, where the contentious press-conference took place.
4. (15 November 2006). "Pressley holds talks with union". BBC Sport.
5. (19 November 2006). "Hearts 0–1 Rangers". BBC Sport.
6. (21 November 2006). "Ribovas promises Hearts return". BBC Sport.
7. "Valdas Returns". [[Hearts F.C.]].
8. (28 February 2007). "Ivanauskas set for change of role". BBC Sport.
9. "Soccerbase Hearts Squad Stats 2006/07".
10. (3 August 2006). "Karipidis completes Hearts move". BBC Sport.
11. (31 August 2006). "Bednar wins permanent Hearts deal". BBC Sport.
12. (9 January 2007). "Hearts agree deal for Templeton". BBC Sport.
13. (4 September 2006). "Johnson back with father at City". BBC Sport.
14. (2 August 2006). "Lions seal Hackett switch". Sky Sports.
15. (4 September 2006). "Fifa allows Webster to join Wigan". BBC Sport.
16. (13 November 2006). "Costa allowed to leave Tynecastle". BBC Sport.
17. (29 December 2006). "Celtic win race to sign Pressley". BBC Sport.
18. (31 January 2007). "Celtic complete Hartley capture". BBC Sport.
19. (28 July 2006). "Hearts complete Pinilla signing". BBC Sport.
20. (29 August 2006). "Lithuanian pair sign for Hearts". BBC Sport.
21. (6 January 2007). "Hearts sign two more from Kaunas". BBC Sport.
22. (31 January 2007). "Hearts bring in three new players". BBC Sport.
23. (6 July 2006). "Thomson to go on loan". Scotsman Publications.
24. "Elliot takes chance while Hughes tells Falkirk to wise up". The Scotsman.
25. (26 January 2007). "Tynecastle trio head out on loan". BBC Sport.