Longest Serving Player-Hearts

Amid the huge influx of newcomers at Tynecastle there are still three Scottish players who provide a sense of continuity at the club. Robbie Neilson didn’t make his debut for Hearts until 2000 but he signed for them in October 1996 during Jim Jefferies period in charge.

He was only 16 at the time and had loan spells at Cowdenbeath and Queen of the South before making the transition to the top level. The Paisley born right back has Scottish under-21 honours and is noted as a long throw specialist. He finally scored a first goal for the club in a key UEFA cup tie with Basle of Switzerland in November 2004- still his only strike in 160 plus games.

Also around in 1996 was Neil McCann. The wide man came from Dundee in summer of that year and had two excellent seasons before a big move to Rangers. After 8 seasons spent at Ibrox and Southampton he returned to Tynecastle in January 2006. Along the way he accumulated 25 Scottish caps.

Like McCann, defender Stephen Pressley also had a career that encompassed Ibrox and the English Premiership. He began his senior career at Rangers back in 1990, making a debut in 1992. He was touted as a star of the future but lack of opportunity saw him join Coventry City in 1994. When that didn’t work out he returned to the SPL with Dundee United.

His form there persuaded Jim Jefferies to bring him to Hearts in 1998 since when he has become the club captain and most talismanic player. Pressley went on to fulfil his early promise by appearing 27 times for Scotland and has been a central figure in Hearts attempts to compete with the Glasgow giants.