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| Photo: Eric McCowat |
UEFA Cup, 2nd Rd,
1st Leg, 6 November 2003,
Stade-Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux
A significant feature of Craig Levein’s time as manager of
Hearts, was achieving some decent results in European competition –
particularly away from Edinburgh. Season 2003/04 would see Hearts
maintain their steady progress under the former Scotland centre half even
though money, as always, was tight at Tynecastle. Chairman Chris Robinson had
to tell Levein – like the majority of Hearts managers before him – that he
would need to wheel and deal in the transfer market, as there would be no money
for new players. However, Levein was proving more than adept at spotting
attributes in players others couldn’t see.
Levein recruited two attack-minded players in the summer of
2003. Dennis Wyness had a decent scoring record at Inverness Caledonian Thistle
and Hearts faced a fight with Wyness’ former team Aberdeen – who wanted him
back at Pittodrie – for the Aberdonian’s signature. The fact that Hearts were
about to play in the UEFA Cup seemed to swing it for Wyness, who ventured south
to Scotland’s capital city and signed for Hearts. Paul Hartley was a player who
once played for Edinburgh’s other team but saw the error of his ways. He had
performed well for St. Johnstone and Levein saw the Glaswegian as an integral
part of the Hearts team – something Hartley would prove to be for some time
after Levein’s departure from Tynecastle. Both players, to the delight of
Chairman Chris Robinson, cost nothing as they were at the end of their
respective contracts.
Hearts had enjoyed a productive campaign in season 2002/03 and a
third place finish in the SPL meant participation in the UEFA Cup. Hearts
awaited the draw for the first round knowing they would be sure to face tough
opposition. They were paired with the Bosnian side Zeljeznicar Sarajevo and
while the draw could have been tougher, Hearts were grateful they had avoided
the likes of Barcelona, Liverpool, Valencia and Borussia Dortmund. The
Bosnians, though, were no mugs and on their substitute’s bench was a 17-year-old
striker who would go on to become a huge star in years to come. In January
2011, Edin Dzeko would move from German football to money-laden Manchester City
for the not inconsiderable sum of £27m.
Hearts won the first leg 2-0 at Tynecastle, thanks to goals from
Mark de Vries and Andy Webster. Crucially, they had avoided conceding an away
goal, but those of us who recalled Hearts UEFA Cup trip to neighbouring Velez
Mostar in 1988, knew the return leg would be a tough affair. The Bosnians
weren’t happy with their defeat in Edinburgh and sacked coach Amar Osmin
afterwards. New coach Milomir Odovic told his players they not only still had a
chance to progress, but they had to prove to him that they were good enough. It
took a backs to the wall performance from Hearts to secure a goalless draw and
progression to the second round on a 2-0 aggregate.
When the draw for the second round was made, Hearts fans clapped
their hands with eager anticipation. No trip to the relative unknown this time.
For Hearts were paired with one of the leading clubs in French football – FC
Girondins de Bordeaux. The first leg was to be played in the south of France
and the chance of heading to warmer climes seven weeks before Christmas to see
their team take on one of Europe’s top sides was not to be missed for Hearts
supporters. 3,000 Jambos headed to the wine producing region of France. Hearts
arranged a special charter plane to take fans there and back on the same day.
With hindsight, the events of Thursday 6 November 2003 meant that, perhaps, we
should have stayed over to fully celebrate one of the most famous results in
the history of Heart of Midlothian Football Club….
There were just over 15,000 fans at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in
Bordeaux – a fifth of whom had made the journey from Scotland. Those of us who
boarded Hearts charter flight at 7.00am that day, had been in the French city
since 11.00am – and had spent much of the day sampling the delights of the city
and French hospitality. It may have been early November but the temperature in
the south of France was 72 degrees fahrenheit and while some Hearts fans headed
for open-air cafes, most congregated at an Irish Bar (as you do when in
France…) called The Connemara. It was a day when a copious amount of alcohol
was consumed, and it built up a magnificent atmosphere ahead of the match.
Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, McKenna, Webster, Pressley, Kisnorbo,
Maybury, Stamp, Wyness, Valois, De Vries
As for the game itself, the majority of Hearts supporters
present may have been under various influences of alcohol, but I suspect many
of them were wondering if they had imbibed too much when they heard the team
Craig Levein had selected for the game. Granted, several beers had been
consumed during the course of the day but as I stood behind the goal with 3,000
other Jambos but it seemed to me Levein had gone for a 4-3-3 option – as Dennis
Wyness, Mark de Vries and Jean-Louis Valois were all named in Hearts starting
line-up. However, when the game kicked off, it soon became apparent that de
Vries would plough a lone furrow up front. Wyness and Valois were part of a
six-man midfield – with Kevin McKenna, Steven Pressley and Andy Webster forming
a trio of centre halves in front of young goalkeeper Craig Gordon, making his
debut in European football at the age of 20 years. Robbie Neilson, normally a
full back, was given one of the six midfield positions and the intent was
clearly to stop the home side from producing anything approaching French flair.
What’s more – it worked.
Bordeaux struggled to produce a threat of any kind in the first
15 minutes. Hearts six man midfield snapped at the heels of any home player
threatening to venture forward, with Bordeaux striker Jean-Claude Darcheville –
who would later go on to play for Rangers in the SPL – hardly getting a touch
of the ball. The old adage in football in games like these is if the underdogs
can survive the first 20 minutes, then anything is possible. After 20 minutes,
came the first real chance of the game – but not at the end of the ground most
expected. Robbie Neilson, of all people, had been fouled on the edge of the
Bordeaux penalty box and while there were hopeful appeals from the less than
sober visiting support, the resultant free kick taken by Valois, back in the country
of his birth, went wide. Nevertheless, it added to the belief in the Hearts
camp that a positive result was possible.
It did, however, alert the home team that they had a game on
their hands. Jemmali fired in a ferocious shot that Craig Gordon did well to
save, before an effort from Feindouno went just over the crossbar. Moments
later, a moment of carelessness from Valois presented another chance for
Feindouno but again his effort was not on target. The game was now taking on
the pattern we all thought it would, with the French continuing to press,
although Hearts threatened again just before half-time when Neilson – revelling
in his midfield role – delivered a cross that caused consternation in the home
defence. With both Kevin McKenna and Mark de Vries lurking in the Bordeaux
penalty area, the aforementioned Feindouno headed the ball towards his
goalkeeper Rame – who had Dennis Wyness bearing down on him. The Bordeaux
number one managed to avert the danger but it was another encouraging sign for
Hearts, roared on by their vociferous support who were showing their French
counterparts just how to get behind your team. Those Jambos were happy to get
the chance to ease their voices at half time with the game still goalless –
Craig Levein’s master plan was, so far, working well.
Five minutes after the re-start, Darcheville produced a chance
out of nothing but fired his shot over the bar. Minutes later, the same player
had a goal bound shot hooked off the goal line by Andy Webster, before Gordon
produced another fine save from Costa. It didn’t help the now sobering Hearts
support that Bordeaux were attacking the end behind which they stood anxiously,
and we constantly looked at our watches in the belief that time had stood still
in the south of France.
Craig Levein brought on fresh legs when Paul Hartley replaced Valois,
but Hearts suffered a blow when the magnificent Robbie Neilson had to go off
injured, to be replaced by Austin McCann. Inevitably, it was Bordeaux who
continued to make all the running, and, at times, Craig Gordon must have felt
it was he against the French as the home team did everything but score. The
young goalkeeper came of age that evening and one could see the frustration on
the faces of the home players as the Hearts supporting goalie kept them at bay,
one save in particular from Pochettino damn near taking the breath away.
Still the game remained goalless. Hearts supporters would have
been delighted with a goalless draw and the chance to complete the job at
Tynecastle three weeks later. With just 12 minutes left, the deadlock was
broken. On a rare foray into the Bordeaux half, Hearts were awarded a free kick
for a foul on Phil Stamp that Hartley elected to take. He was too far out to
have a shot on goal, but he expertly floated a long ball towards the far post,
which the tall figure of McKenna met with his head. ‘Moose’ as the big Canadian
defender was known, headed the ball across the penalty box where Rame palmed
his effort away – but only into the path of de Vries who slotted the ball into
the net for an incredible goal. Cue absolute bedlam in the Hearts end as 3,000
disbelieving maroon and white clad supporters leapt for joy.
The home support was stunned. It has to be said the same feeling
was prevalent among a nonetheless, ecstatic travelling support. The game ended
with an historic 1-0 win for Hearts, their first and, to date, only victory on
French soil. Bordeaux were one of the leading clubs in France and for a young,
inexperienced Hearts team – and manager – to come away with a victory was
nothing short of sensational. At the end of the game, the Hearts players
celebrated with those who had travelled to support them.
It was to Craig Levein’s credit that he said, immediately after
the game had ended, that the tie had still to be won. Bordeaux wasn’t a top
team in Europe for nothing and they would fancy their chances of overturning
the deficit at Tynecastle in the return leg. Which, inevitably, as far as
Hearts are concerned, they did. In front of a full house of close to 18,000
fans in Gorgie, the French team displayed their undoubted class with a
performance of maturity and authority and won 2-0 on the night to progress 2-1
on aggregate. Domestically, Hearts secured another third place finish in the
SPL but lost to Dundee in the League Cup and Celtic in the Scottish Cup.
Nonetheless, the disappointment of that cold November evening in
Gorgie will never take away the jubilation felt by those of us who travelled to
the south of France three weeks earlier. Such trips take a fair degree of
planning but it’s doubtful if any of us could have made a better job if we had
planned it in detail ourselves. The weather, the hospitality, the magnificence
of Bordeaux, the alcohol – and, of course, the result, meant it was just the
perfect day to be a Hearts supporter. In fact, I would say it was the best day
I have had as a Hearts supporter outside of seeing the Jambos win three
Scottish Cups. A day none of us who were there will ever forget.
Twitter @Mike1874
