Report Index--> 1997-98--> All for 19980516 | ||||
<-Page | <-Team | Sat 16 May 1998 Hearts 2 Rangers 1 | Team-> | Page-> |
<-Srce | <-Type | Guardian ------ Report | Type-> | Srce-> |
Jim Jefferies | <-auth | Patrick Glenn | auth-> | Willie Young |
[A McCoist 81] | ||||
56 | of 138 | Colin Cameron pen 1 ;Stephane Adam 52 | SC | N |
Revived Hearts beat with joyHow the shrewd judge Jefferies won the verdict PATRICK GLENN AT CELTIC PARK WITH the votes already in, Jim Jefferies did not have to win the cup to be named Bell's Manager of the Year. Jefferies was presented with the award at the annual dinner of the Scottish Football Writers' Association last night, but it did not compare with the elation induced by his beloved club's achievement the day before.'I knew nothing would compare with this,' said Jefferies after Hearts won the oldest competition for the first time since 1956; their last trophy of any kind had been the League Cup of 1962. It was Jefferies's husbanding of meagre means which brought him recognition from the media as well as triumph in the cup. Jefferies's extraordinary exploitation of the Bosman ruling - he signed the Frenchmen Gilles Rousset and Stephane Adam, Stefano Salvatori from Italy and Thomas Flogel from Austria - has allowed the club's directors to complete Tynecastle's redevelopment. As well as adroit juggling of the figures and a nose for a player who will fit, Jefferies imparts his own imperishable optimism to his squad. Hearts' victory, which left Rangers without a trophy for the first time in 1986, could also be attributed to Jefferies's tactics. Walter Smith, the outgoing Rangers manager, was not helped by the suspension of Jorg Albertz, the injury to Jonas Thern and the transfer to Middlesbrough of Paul Gascoigne which stripped away his first-choice midfield. He was left with such players as Stuart McCall, Ian Ferguson and Rino Gattuso, who are not celebrated for their creativity. Colin Cameron converted a penalty awarded after only 38 seconds when Ferguson tripped Steve Fulton. Ally McCoist, who had replaced Staale Stensaas at half-time, pulled a goal back with eight minutes left, but it was Rangers' only impact on a stout Hearts defence. Smith was visibly shaken when he said: 'TV showed Stevie Fulton was outside the box at their penalty, but that's the way it goes. For Hearts' players, their manager and the thousands of supporters who lined the streets of Edinburgh yesterday, this was as good as it gets. Taken from the Guardian/Observer |
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<-Page | <-Team | Sat 16 May 1998 Hearts 2 Rangers 1 | Team-> | Page-> |