Presenting the best Hearts XI of the 21st century – or is it?

Hearts Standard, in a shamelessly copied idea from The Athletic, wants to put together the ultimate and best Hearts XI of the twenty-first century.

And we need your aid. We have created a list of the 340 players who have played competitively for the club since 2000, thanks to the fantastic resource that is London Hearts. You may find the list HERE. The players are organised by position and can be cycled through by clicking the individual tabs at the bottom right of the sheet. Respond to this article, contact us on Facebook/X/Blue Sky, or email me at joel.sked@newsquest.co.uk.

There will be names you’ve forgotten as well as those you were unaware of. Some people will have strongly differing opinions. There are others whose talent should have made them clear candidates, but for whatever reason, they did not live up to the hype or their full potential. Mauricio Pinilla and Alexandros Tziolis, to name only two. Of course, there are some real legends. How you choose your squad is entirely up to you. Certain positions have apparent choices. In other places, less so. Do you consider longevity, or just the player at his prime in a Hearts top? Do you solely take their on-field contribution into account or judge each player on more than just that? Do you go for purely the best XI or do you get your tactics board out and pick the most balanced XI?

Hearts Standard discussed the best XI with Mark Donaldson and Scott McIntosh from Scarves Around the Funnel (a video/podcast available now). We created a combined XI from our individual selections, using a FOUR-FOUR-*******-TWO approach. Is this the best Hearts XI of the century? Some may believe so, but many others will disagree. It’s all highly subjective, but four to six people should be classified as no doubters. So, without further ado, here is our united XI. GK: Craig Gordon

Honourable mentions: Antti Niemi and Marian Kello. Since the turn of the century, Hearts has had 25 goalkeepers make competitive appearances, and to say the results have been uneven is an understatement. The greatest have actually been outstanding. At one time, Antti Niemi would have been a lock for the job, but Marian Kello performed admirably. However, in Craig Gordon, the Hearts academy created a generational star. He was not just the best player at the club throughout his two tenure, but also the best player in the country. His list of great saves is extensive and will live long in the memory.

RB: Michael Smith

Honourable mentions: Robbie Neilson and Callum Patterson. Mr Consistent has played more than 200 games for the club. A consistent presence amid a period of high player turnover and churn, with the squad unable to compete for European berths for several seasons before finishing in the Championship. He was the antithesis of everything going on around him. A very good defender, a neat footballer who could hold his own in the attacking third. He also played well as a wing-back, centre-back in a two, centre-back in a three, and in midfield. Hearts hope that Christian Borchgrevink will finally replace him.

CB: Steven Pressley

Honourable mentions: Marius Zaliukas, John Souttar

For many Hearts fans, Steven Pressley is an obvious choice for this XI. For some Hearts fans, Steven Pressley is an understandable quandary for this XI. If emotion is removed from the decision, he is the team’s captain and leader. As he was throughout the majority of his stay at Tynecastle Park. A no-nonsense defender, an excellent penalty taker, and a world-class buyer of fouls while under pressure from forwards. He earned the respect of the fanbase and offered a sense of serenity among the support; he was the comfort blanket, the rock. He stood up to Vladimir Romanov as captain, and many of the fans responded with admiration and support. Then came his return with Celtic. And that’s where the emotion can sway a decision.

CB: Andy Webster

Honourable mentions: Christophe Berra and Igor Rossi. Who is the greatest talented centre-back to have played for Hearts this century? We would definitely say so. An adept game reader who was rarely out of position and rarely used the ‘last-ditch’ option. He was a centre-back who appeared to have spent more time at AC Milan than at Arbroath. He was an important member of two successful teams over two seasons and acquired the nickname ‘Stroller’ for a cause.

LB: Takis Fyssas

Honourable mentions: Gary Naysmith and Aaron Hickey. Now, if Gary Naysmith hadn’t departed so early in 2000, there would have been a much bigger argument… but when the Greek arrived at Tynecastle Park in 2005, you knew Hearts were serious under Romanov. A European Championship winner the previous year, with a strong pedigree in the Portuguese and Greek top divisions. A player with class, both defensively and offensively. He did not simply run, but glided. His slide-tackling was an art in and of itself. While his second season did not live up to his first, it was still really good.

RW: Callum Paterson

The most difficult position to decide in a 4-4-2. Over the last 25 years, it has been a fairly tricky area, with several players displaying flashes of quality or having moments of relevance but failing to maintain consistency. Paterson, on the other hand, was a formidable presence on the right flank, whether as a winger, wing-back, or full-back. A strong runner, excellent in the air, powerful, and aggressive. Not a typical winger, but one with several skills.

CM: Paul Hartley

Honourable mention: Julien Brellier. A Celtic fan who quit the club to play for his hometown club after arriving at Tynecastle Park, having previously played for Hibernian. Nonetheless, it was clear that he would make the team. That speaks much about his contributions and impact. Double figures in consecutive seasons, as well as some pivotal moments, such as the penalty that secured Champions League qualification and a hat-trick against Hibs in the Scottish Cup semi-finals. He was the player that fans of other teams despised, making him even more popular in Gorgie.

CM: Colin Cameron

Honourable mention: Bruno Aguiar. Before Paul Hartley, there was Colin Cameron. One of the best signings during the first Jefferies era. He, of course, delivered at one of the most critical times of the twentieth century, but he may have had his best season in 2000/01, when he was Hearts’ leading scorer with 16 goals as the club finished third. A leader, a driving force, and the player every Hearts fan wants to see in the middle of the park. Given his talent, importance, and output, the club received only £1.75 million.

LW: Rudi Skacel

Honourable mention: Jamie Walker. Is there a greater talismanic character in the past 25 years than Rudi Skacel? A player who seemed destined to wear the maroon and white. From the minute he scored in front of Hibs fans in the Roseburn Stand in the second game of the season and directed them where to go, he was winning over the club’s supporters. A left foot to die for. A left foot to arrive early and observe his shooting practice during the warm-up. Oh! And just three goals in two Scottish Cup final victories.

ST: Lawrence Shankland

Honourable mentions: Edgaras Jankauskas and Roman Bednar. The greatest Hearts striker since John Robertson. It’s that simple. In 138 matches, 91 goals were scored. The first to reach 20 in a season since Robbo. The first to reach 30 in a season since Robbo. The first to reach 20 in consecutive seasons since Robbo. In addition to his goals, he served as the attack’s focal point. The greatest Nos. 9 and 10. Few players in the last 25 years have been as dependable. His 2023/24 season is the best by any individual Hearts player this century.

ST: Ricardo Fuller

Honourable mentions: Andrius Velicka and Mark de Vries. Have any players made significant contributions over time? Absolutely. Are there any players who have scored more? Most absolutely. Has there ever been someone quite like Ricardo Fuller? Absolutely not. A one-of-a-kind striker who wowed Tynecastle Park during a loan term that everyone hoped would turn into a permanent deal. He departed with a sense of ‘what if?’ as well as ‘what a player’. In terms of football talent, he is among the best to have played for the club this century. Hit play on the Motherwell goal.

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