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| <-Page | <-Team | Wed 02 Aug 2006 NK Siroki Brijeg 0 Hearts 0 | Team-> | Page-> |
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| Valdas Ivanauskas | <-auth | Rob Robertson | auth-> | Viktor Kassai |
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Hearts sign up defender KaripidisROB ROBERTSON August 04 2006 Hearts last night signed the Greek Under-21 internationalist Christos Karipidis on a three-year deal from PAOK Salonika. The 23-year-old centre back is set to feature against compatriots AEK in the Tynecastle team's vital Champions League qualifying match first leg at Murrayfield next week. Also set to feature is Mauricio Pinilla, the Chilean striker signed by Hearts on a one-year loan from Sporting Lisbon last Friday. Karipidis, a friend of Hearts' Greek full-back Takis Fyssas, said he was looking forward to taking on AEK, against whom he has played many times. In order to strengthen the team Vladimir Romanov, the club owner, sanctioned the £200,000 move for Karipidis, who was signed just before last night's deadline which makes him eligible to face AEK. The Herald understands that Karipidis is match-fit but is likely just to be on the bench against Celtic at Tynecastle on Sunday. Valdas Ivanauskas, the Hearts head coach, said Karipidis had a good football pedigree and was a valuable asset. "I saw a lot of him before he joined and I spoke to the Greek national coach, Otto Rehhagel, about him," said Ivanauskas. "He told me he is a good player and his arrival means there will be more competition for a place in the team. "Christos will be an important addition to our squad, as it will be a long season and we need lots of options in case we get injuries and suspensions." Hearts now have strength in depth in the centre of defence, with Karipidis supplementing club captain Steven Pressley and Christophe Berra. However, they will have to up their game to beat AEK as the Greeks are a step up in quality compared with Siroki Brijeg, whom they beat in the previous Champions League qualifying tie.  Taken from the Herald |
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