Departing Hearts hero Ian Black vows to make playing return to Tynecastle before he retires

May 21 2012

IAN BLACK last night revealed his Hearts career may not be over – because he’d love nothing more than to return to Tynecastle before hanging up his boots.

The midfield dynamo was sensational as he inspired his team to a 5-1 Scottish Cup Final destruction of bitter city rivals Hibs.

Lifelong Jambo Black fulfilled a boyhood dream by lifting silverware in his beloved maroon and the moment was especially sweet as he’s set to quit.

With cash problems taking hold and owner Vladimir Romanov wishing the promote from the club’s academy in the coming years, discussions over a new contract for the 27-year-old were
cancelled earlier in the season and a decision taken by both parties to part company in
the summer.

Black will have English clubs lining-up for his signature on the back of his Hampden heroics and his performance in the final was the perfect farewell.

The Scotland B star was given a standing ovation by the jubilant 25,000 Hearts fans when he was taken off near the finish and milked the applause with a punch of the air.

Black will be sorely missed
by the Tynecastle fans after three years of service as he prepares for a new career south of the border.

But Hearts will always be his team and he’s refusing to rule out a return later in his career after he samples fresh challenges.

Black said: “I thank every one of the fans who stood up and applauded me. We deserved the win and they deserved it, too.

“It was a great opportunity to join Hearts and I had to grab it with both hands. There is sadness at it coming to an end but there is going to be a new challenge and to finish on that note is great.

“I don’t mean this in a bad way but it is maybe the right time to try something else.

“I knew the club had a bit of financial trouble, so we came to an agreement and I accepted what the plans were. I’ll move on and thank everyone inside the club because they have all looked after me.

“Being a Hearts fan, I definitely wouldn’t rule out coming back. I shouldn’t be talking about
retirement now but I’d love to come back here and finish as a player. It would be emotional.

“You dream as a kid of playing for the club you support and I’ve managed to get the chance to win the Scottish Cup Final with them, so that just rounds it off.

“Now I will go and grab the new challenge with both hands, whatever comes along.

“And, if at a later date I get an opportunity to come back here, then that would be brilliant.”

Team-mate Rudi Skacel may have been announced Man of the Match as the romp came to an end but the sponsors must have been on the dancing juice early as his little midfield colleague was the most influential player on the park by the length of the Royal Mile.

Having gone through some emotionally-draining times this season, it was the ideal way for the player to put those bad moments to bed.

As the pay crisis deepened at Tynecastle and the squad went months without pay, Black was forced to start painting and
decorating to pay his bills.

But the Hearts driving force paid tribute to the support he received from manager Paulo Sergio through the dark times.

Black said: “I’ve had tough times off the field and proved everyone wrong at Hampden, so I thank everyone for supporting me.

“Things happen in football and in life but the gaffer has been brilliant. He stood by me. I had more problems than some of the other boys but he put his arm around me and kept me going, so I would like to thank him.”

Black repaid his boss in spades at the National Stadium and, without question, carved his name into the minds of a host of English managers and their summer shopping lists.

It was the type of classy display that has observers wondering why he has chosen to blight his career with controversial incidents.

Black’s combative nature has spilled over on more than one occasion through his times at Inverness and then Tynecastle and made him a regular of the SFA suspension lists.

Branded a hothead and even a thug, he has somehow managed to hide his superb talent for making telling passes and controlling the tempo of a match. Perhaps the penny has finally dropped as Black said: “The older you get, the wiser you get. I always look back at games and think why I did this or that.

“I’ve grown up and kicked on this year and I’m delighted with my season. Maybe people get wrapped up too much in things when they’re younger.

“I think I’m a winner and, maybe, that comes across a bit too much rather than just relaxing and enjoying it. I’ve learned to enjoy it now.”

Black was certainly true to his word of enjoying it at Hampden and he didn’t hold back during the celebrations which charged into the night and
into Sunday.

To hammer Hibs and get a standing ovation – it’s a perfect sign-off.

Black said: “There were two teams on the park and we punished them everywhere.

“We didn’t let Hibs play and we all enjoyed it. We did what the gaffer told us to do and the result shows that.

“As I said, I want to thank every one of the fans who stood up and applauded me. It was outstanding and not a lot of players get that. It’s an emotional time."

Taken from the Daily Record