I'd love to show Scala the Scots way

FORMER Hearts star Pasquale Bruno revealed today he would love to return to Edinburgh to be part of a Nevio Scala Tynecastle revolution.

Bruno, who arrived at the Jambos in 1995 as former boss Jim Jefferies' second signing, has watched with interest from his home in Rome as his compatriot has emerged as the front-runner to take over the Gorgie hot-seat.

The ex-Juventus, Torino and Fiorentina defender first crossed swords with Scala, pictured below, when the 57-year-old was making a name for himself at Parma in the early 1990's.

The ex-Borussia Dortmund boss took the then minnows from the lower reaches of Serie B and into the country's top flight before helping them to win the UEFA Cup and UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.

And although the two have never worked together, Bruno, who achieved cult status with one half of Edinburgh during his 18-month spell in the Capital, is a big admirer of what Scala has achieved, not only in Italy but also across Europe in Germany and the Ukraine.

"He did a great job at Parma and won the club a lot of trophies," said Bruno, who celebrated his 43rd birthday last weekend.

"I played against his teams many times and they were always very difficult opponents. I think he is a very good manager, a very good man and would be a very good choice by Hearts.

"When you live in football for many years in one country as we did you get to know everyone. We came across each other many times and I was very impressed.

"He is also very well thought of in Italy but I was not surprised to hear of Hearts' interest as I have been reading that they are now very ambitious.

"And if that is the case I think Nevio Scala is the right man for the club to choose. He has worked in so many countries that he has contacts that will help Hearts greatly."

Until last season Bruno was working with Sky television in Italy but having recently left his role as a pundit he is now taking his coaching badges.

And he revealed that when those are complete he would love to put them to use in a coaching position at Hearts. I liked working with the television but I missed football and always knew that at some stage I would have to try and get involved again.

"I loved my time in Scotland and it is my dream to start my coaching career there or in England and then hopefully become a manager at some point after I have learned about being a coach.

"I like the style of play in Scotland and England - it is physical - the way football should be played.

"I will be finishing my coaching badges early next year and it would be great if I could come back over to Scotland.

"In football strange things happen, and who is to say that one day my dream won't come true and I will be back at Hearts. We will wait and see."

For now, however, the name on Hearts supporters' lips is that of Scala and while Bruno believes his countryman has what it takes to lead Vladimir Romanov's ambitious plans for the club he admitted it will take time. "The Old Firm have most of the fans, most of the money and the best players at the moment," he said. "When I was at Hearts we did manage to beat them a few times because what Hearts have, the players and the supporters, is a great deal of passion.

"And this is a strength that I think Nevio Scala can use because with that passion and his knowledge of the game then maybe Hearts can go far.

"I would like to see the club challenge the Old Firm because the supporters, who were great to me, deserve to have success. I hope they get it. It won't be easy but if he is allowed time to build his own team and adapt to the Scottish way of football then I think Scala definitely has a chance of doing it.

"Parma were not the main team in Italy when he took over just as Hearts are not the main team in Scotland. To do it once means it can be done a second time."

Whether Bruno's dreams of returning to this country as a coach come to fruition in the future or not remains to be seen.

But he will definitely be returning to Scotland for a holiday in early September as he revealed that Tynecastle will be one of his first stops.

"It's been too long since I saw Hearts play and I hope to see maybe two games in September when I come back to Scotland.

"Although I keep up with the Hearts news the best I can it is not the same as being at the ground and seeing old friends. It would also be good to see the Hearts fans as they were always very good to me.

"I am an honorary member of the Lombardio Hearts supporters' club near Milan which has about 100 members so that means I am never too far behind with news.

"But it will be good to come back for a holiday in a couple of months and who knows, maybe for longer when I have my coaching badges."

Taken from the Scotsman