Ringing true for Bednar

IT'S the morning after the night before in the midst of the Austrian alpine land and Roman Bednar has just had a little something for the weekend. Short, back and sides sir? More like a to-the-bone self-styled No.1. The old Mohican-style crop is well and truly gone and Hearts striker Bednar has replaced it with a crewcut. However, while it is a style so often associated with hell-raisers, Bednar is no troublemaker.

There was a time where Bednar was, by his own admission, a little "crazy", but only in the sense that he had packed in the game he so dearly loved and had no idea of what he wanted to do with his life.

At 15, growing up in Prague, he was directionless until a gentle jolt from his parents, Ivan and Iveta, got him back on track for football stardom. Now, eight years on, the 6ft 3in Czech striker has not only made it as a professional but stands on the brink of starring in the "greatest show on earth", the Champions League.

The game's biggest stars await him if he can help steer Hearts through two qualifying rounds. However, Bednar fully acknowledges that, without a little chat from his parents, he wouldn't be here and that is why he has assigned a special ringtone to his phone especially for them.

"I have had the Champions League theme tune saved on my mobile for four years because it has always been a dream of mine to play on that stage," revealed Bednar. "I switched it on when we qualified and it only works when two people are calling me... mum and dad.

"Why did I keep it special for them? Why not? My parents were crucial to my career and I know, if it wasn't for their help, then I wouldn't be sitting here talking about playing Champions League football.

"There were many times when I felt like giving up the game. In fact I actually did give it up completely for one month when I was 15.

"One day I just decided I'd had enough and I didn't kick a ball for more than four weeks. I don't even know what made me feel that way because in my heart I still wanted football, maybe I was just too lazy to fight.

"I was a little bit crazy as a teenager. I needed the support from my parents to tell me I could make it in football. My parents gave me a choice. They said: 'Don't waste your life, focus on your dream and then you will be happy.' They were right. I am very happy now.

"Last year was the best season of my career. I made a dressing room full of new friends and I won my first professional medal to take home to show my parents. Hopefully there will be many more to come."

A smiling, instantly likeable character, Bednar turns into a fearsome, physical striker on the park. Seven goals in 24 games before a four-month injury lay-off made Bednar a hero and underlined why George Burley was so keen to bring him to Tynecastle.

His English was limited when he first arrived on these shores but now he is almost fluent and is determined to improve further still so that he can fully convey his love for the people of Edinburgh.

As if playing at Tynecastle last season wasn't enough to get his juices flowing, the small matter of an open-top bus parade with the Scottish Cup in front of 250,000 adoring fans got Bednar hooked for life.

The serene, mountain-filled backdrop of Hearts' base in Windischgarsten, Austria, has been the perfect getaway for Bednar and the Hearts players from the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh.

However, now that they are heading back to Scotland to prepare for the Champions League qualifier in ten days' time, Bednar can't wait to see Princes Street again.

"Next season will be very, very exciting and I hope that we can give the supporters all that they want," he added. "They were unbelievable last year. They followed us all over the country and without their backing I don't know if we would have enjoyed such a fantastic season. I have had so many letters from the fans and met a few in the street. I always make an effort to try and respond and speak to them. When we went on the open-top bus parade with the Scottish Cup, the hairs on the back of my legs stood up.

"I looked at their faces as we showed off the Scottish Cup and I try to keep all their smiles in my memory. All the Hearts players have a CD of photos.

"Takis Fyssas took pictures of everything from the bus and gave us all mementoes. I have fallen in love with Hearts and Scotland. It is my first time ever away from my country and I did wonder how I would settle.

"But I shouldn't have worried because it has worked out well for me. I have made some wrong moves in my career in the past but this is definitely the right one."

It could get even better if Vladimir Romanov has his way. His pre-season rallying cry to the players included demands for SPL title success and qualification for the Champions League group stage.

And while Bednar sees no reason why the players can't deliver, he does fear there could be a resurgence of a Paul le Guen-fuelled Rangers to upset Vlad's plans.

"We want to try and win the league next season and of course I can see no reason why we can't do that. If you saw the level of football we played last season then you will know why we are confident. Our aim has to be to take the title and make it into the group stages of the Champions League.

"But if I'm honest, I now think Rangers are favourites ahead of ourselves and Celtic to win the league. They have a new manager with fresh ideas, new players and they will be a lot stronger. They are a side to be feared because they never met their expectations last year and the pain of that will drive them on."

Taken from the Scotsman