Ex-Hearts star says dumping Spurs didn't compare with the derby

Published Date: 17 August 2011
By BARRY ANDERSON
ONE former Hearts player has already played a pivotal role in eliminating Tottenham Hotspur from a knockout cup competition. Mark de Vries' winning goal for Leicester City sent the London club spinning out of the FA Cup third round in January 2006.
Michael Dawson, Aaron Lennon, Michael Carrick, Jermaine Jenas, Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane and Paul Robinson were amongst those left devastated by the deadly Dutchman, who helped Championship side Leicester overhaul a 2-0 deficit to win 3-2 against their Premier League opponents.

However, for De Vries, the elation of such a dramatic victory over one of England's most prestigious sides did not compare with the satisfaction of annihilating Hibs. He stroked the decisive third goal in the final minute of the tie in a scenario straight out of a Roy of the Rovers comic book. Taking the acclaim from jubilant Leicester fans, the former Hearts striker was mindful that scoring four in a 5-1 lashing of Hibs was rather more euphoric.

The happiness De Vries brought to one half of Edinburgh that day at Tynecastle in 2002 will live with him forever. Never before, nor since, has he felt joy quite like it. So when Hearts and Tottenham begin their Europa League play-off first leg at Tynecastle tomorrow evening, his memory bank will kick into overdrive.

"Scoring the winner against Spurs was a great experience but not better than my goals against Hibs," said the 35-year-old, now back in Holland. "The Hearts-Hibs games are special and I'm already waiting for the next one on August 28. These are the things I look forward to even when I am away from Scotland. I always look to see when the derby games are being played because if I have the chance to pop over to Edinburgh I will pop over.

"Leicester against Tottenham is not a special game like a derby. It's a game between two big clubs but Hearts-Hibs is more intense. It's a traditional game, everybody wants to see those matches and the players really want to win them.

"I still remember the Tottenham game because it was a big night and a great result. I wasn't nervous before that game, I had a good feeling about it. Tottenham were leading 2-0 and we pulled three goals back. Elvis Hammond and Stephen Hughes scored and then I scored in the last minute. It was a ball from Joey Gudjonsson from midfield which put me through on goal. I remember putting the ball away and it was a fantastic feeling."

Leicester, of course, weren't short on Hearts connections that evening.

De Vries' manager was Craig Levein, assisted by Peter Houston and Kenny Black. His team-mates included Alan Maybury and Joe Hamill, plus the former Old Firm pair of Hughes and Rab Douglas.

In the Tottenham dugout was one of his compatriots, who is unlikely to forget the damage De Vries inflicted on his team. "Tottenham had a strong team, plus they had Martin Jol as coach. I came across Martin when I was playing for Cambuur about 18 months ago and he reminded me about that night."

Ironically, Levein found himself out of work just three weeks later as Leicester failed to consolidate on the achievement of beating Tottenham. They lost their next three consecutive league matches and the Scot paid the price with his job. Jol lasted another nine months before Spurs replaced him with Juande Ramos.

"We had a lot of players with Premier League experience which helped us win that match," continued De Vries. "That particular night was against Tottenham but we could have done that to any team. However we lost our next few games and Craig Levein was sacked.

"It was a great team result against Tottenham but I think the manager had us back in training the next day. I had a lot of friends over from Holland, about six or seven people, and the game was broadcast live across the UK and back home. My phone was going all night. Everyone saw a magnificent game and it was great to play in."

Tomorrow's match has the potential to be just as entertaining. Under the stewardship of Harry Redknapp, Spurs are even more decorated now than five years ago when De Vries encountered them. International stars like Aaron Lennon, Luka Modric and Gareth Bale carry the kind of box office allure which saw tickets for the first leg sell out within three hours.

Several experienced campaigners could be missing for Tottenham through injury but that is unlikely to detract from their appeal. De Vries' compatriot, Rafael van der Vaart, is hopeful of overcoming an ankle knock to grace the Tynecastle turf. Grace being the operative word.

"With Rafael van der Vaart up against Hearts, he is the kind of player who can really make a difference. I played against him when he was younger here in Holland. He is a huge player over here. All the kids want to be like (Wesley) Sneijder and Van der Vaart now. When I was young, I wanted to be Ruud Gullit or Marco van Basten. It shows how big he is that he has taken their place in the eyes of the nation.

"I'd love to see Hearts beat Tottenham. Every Hearts player is going to give 100 per cent to show what he is capable of. I will be trying my best to see this game on television and I hope Hearts can be as successful against Spurs as I was."

If they prevail, expect De Vries to be jumping for joy in his Dutch living room - just as he was at Tynecastle nine years ago after putting Hibs to the sword.

Taken from the Scotsman