2008–09 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season

Hearts began the campaign with a new manager, Csaba László, at the helm. In Laszlo's first game in charge Hearts drew 1–1 with Northern Irish side Glentoran (losing 6–5 on penalties.) Two days later Hearts travelled to Dunfermline where they lost 1–0. On the same day Hearts set out on their 10-day pre-season tour of Germany.

League campaign

The club began the season with a home win against Motherwell and had a good run in the early stages of the campaign, climbing as high as second in the table in late September.^[1] The good start looked under threat when it was revealed that players wages had not been paid, although the problem was blamed on a "technical hitch" with wages to be paid on Friday 26 September.^[2] However, in April 2009 the club was able to announce a £6 million reduction in their debt level.^[3]

After a run of poor results in October, the club set off on a run of five league wins in a row starting with a 1–0 away win over St Mirren and culminating in a 2–1 home win over Rangers that left them third in the table.^[4] However Hearts' strike force had only managed to score 2 goals in 19 games and was looking ineffective. After a 1–1 draw at Celtic Park, there followed a draw at home against Dundee United, a defeat at Pittodrie and a goalless draw against Hibernian.

Hearts boosted their chances of a third-place finish and qualification for the Europa League with a 2–1 win over 5th-placed Aberdeen, Christian Nade cancelled out Darren Mackie's opener on the stroke of half time before Andy Driver scored the winner in the second half.

On 28 February Hearts beat fellow 3rd place hopefuls, Dundee Utd 1–0 at Tannadice with Michael Stewart's second half strike. This moved them 5 points clear in 3rd place, following which Hearts then defeated Motherwell 2–1 at Tynecastle with a last minute goal from Ruben Palazuelos.

Hearts visited Easter Road on 14 March and lost 1–0 through Steven Fletcher's goal. Hearts then took themselves to Ibrox where they found themselves 2–0 down at half time but a spirited second half changed the course of the match with Christos Karipidis and Ruben Palazuelos both netting to make it 2–2.

Hearts then followed their success with a terrific 3–1 over Kilmarnock at Tynecastle. Hearts lost an early goal from Danny Invincible but a Calum Elliot brace and a Bruno Aguiar strike made Hearts comfortable winners, securing a top six finish, which they failed to achieve the previous season, the only time in the clubs history.

After success against Kilmarnock, Hearts faced Celtic in the second last game before the split. Hearts lost a goal inside the 1st minute from Venegoor of Hessilink but equalised before half time from an outstanding freekick from Bruno Aguiar, gaining Hearts another point from the Old Firm. This left only an away game at Falkirk before the league table split. Despite a 2–0 loss to Rangers and a 1–0 loss to Hibs, Hearts beat Dundee United 3–0 to finish in third place in Csaba Lazlo's debut season. Their final game, a 0–0 draw with Celtic, ensured that the Glasgow club missed out on the title.^[5]

Domestic cups

Hearts entered the Scottish League Cup at the second round and were given a tough game by First Division side Airdrie United, being defeated on penalties after a 0–0 draw.

The club entered the Scottish Cup in the Fourth Round where they faced Edinburgh derby rivals Hibernian at Easter Road. Hearts won the game 2–0 with goals from Christian Nadé and Gary Glen to set up a Fifth Round tie with Falkirk. They were then eliminated by Falkirk following a 1–0 home defeat.

Transfers

Lazslo's first signing came on 20 July 2008 when he signed Ugandan international, David Obua. On 11 August 2008, Mike Tullberg signed a one-year loan deal with Hearts, becoming Laszlo's second signing, but his career in Edinburgh was set back by recurring injury problems.

During the January transfer window the club lost Christophe Berra to Wolverhampton Wanderers in a deal worth around £2.5 million. Robbie Neilson was handed the captain's armband following Berra's departure.^[6]

Players in

David Obua (defender/midfielder, from Kaizer Chiefs FC) 06.08.08
Mike Tullberg (striker, from Reggina Calcio on loan) 11.08.08
Marian Kello (goalkeeper, from FBK Kaunas on loan) 14 August 2008
János Balogh (goalkeeper, from Debreceni VSC on loan) 22 August 2008
Adrian Mrowiec (defender/midfielder from FBK Kaunas) 28 August 2008
Arvydas Novikovas (striker from FC Vilnius) 19 September 2008
János Balogh (goalkeeper, from Debreceni VSC – loan made permanent) 2 February 2009^[7]

Players out

Eddie Mearns (midfielder, to Dundee)
Jonathan Taylor (defender, to Glentoran F.C.)
Fernando Screpis (midfielder, released)
Neil McCann (midfielder, to Falkirk)
Marc McCusker (striker, to Clyde)
Ibrahim Tall (defender, to FC Nantes)
Mauricio Pinilla (striker, to CR Vasco da Gama)
Kestutis Ivaskevicius (midfielder, loan ended, returned to FBK Kaunas)
Christophe Berra (defender, to Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.)^[8]
Anthony Basso (goalkeeper, released)^[9]

Results and fixtures

Date	Venue	Opponents	Score^[10]	Competition	Hearts scorer(s)	Match Report
14 July 2008	The Oval	Glentoran	1–1 (a.e.t.) (5–4 pen.)	Umbro Trophy	Mikoliūnas	Hearts Official Site
16 July 2008	East End Park	Dunfermline Athletic	0–1	F		Hearts Official Site
23 July 2008	Rheingau Stadion	Rheingau-Auswahl	6–0	F	Kšanavičius, Berra, Žaliūkas, Kingston, Stewart, Mäkelä	Hearts Official Site
25 July 2008	Fritz Walter Stadion	Kaiserslautern	0–1	F		Hearts Official Site
29 July 2008	BRITA-Arena	SV Wehen Wiesbaden	1–2	F	Ivaškevičius	Hearts Official Site
3 August 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	Hull City	1–0	F	Kšanavičius	Hearts Official Site
9 August 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	Motherwell	3–2	SPL	Stewart, Kšanavičius, Mikoliūnas	Hearts Official Site
16 August 2008	Ibrox Stadium	Rangers	0–2	SPL		Hearts Official Site
23 August 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	St Mirren	2–1	SPL	Mole, Stewart	Hearts Official Site
27 August 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	Airdrie United	0–0 (a.e.t.) (3–4 pen.)	SLC		Hearts Official Site
30 August 2008	New Douglas Park	Hamilton	2–1	SPL	Žaliūkas, Driver	Hearts Official Site
13 September 2008	Falkirk Stadium	Falkirk	1–2	SPL	Stewart	Hearts Official Site
20 September 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	Inverness CT	1–0	SPL	Mikoliūnas	Hearts Official Site
27 September 2008	Tannadice Park	Dundee United	0–3	SPL		Hearts Official Site
4 October 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	Kilmarnock	1–2	SPL	Kingston	Hearts Official Site
19 October 2008	Easter Road	Hibernian	1–1	SPL	Aguiar	Hearts Official Site
25 October 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	Aberdeen	1–1	SPL	Wallace	Hearts Official Site
2 November 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	Celtic	0–2	SPL		Hearts Official Site
8 November 2008	Love Street	St Mirren	1–0	SPL	Jonsson	Hearts Official Site
12 November 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	Hamilton	1–0	SPL	Nadé	Hearts Official Site
15 November 2008	Caledonian Stadium	Inverness CT	1–0	SPL	Aguiar	Hearts Official Site
22 November 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	Falkirk	2–1	SPL	Aguiar, Driver	Hearts Official Site
29 November 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	Rangers	2–1	SPL	Žaliūkas, Kingston	Hearts Official Site
13 December 2008	Celtic Park	Celtic	1–1	SPL	Driver	Hearts Official Site
20 December 2008	Tynecastle Stadium	Dundee United	0–0	SPL		Hearts Official Site
27 December 2008	Pittodrie Stadium	Aberdeen	0–1	SPL		Hearts Official Site
3 January 2009	Tynecastle Stadium	Hibernian	0–0	SPL		Hearts Official Site
7 January 2009	Fir Park	Motherwell	0–1	SPL		Hearts Official Site
11 January 2009	Easter Road	Hibernian	2–0	SC	Nadé, Glen	Hearts Official Site
17 January 2009	Rugby Park	Kilmarnock	2–0	SPL	Aguiar, Karipidis	Hearts Official Site
24 January 2009	Tynecastle Stadium	Inverness CT	3–2	SPL	Obua (2), Kingston	Hearts Official Site
31 January 2009	New Douglas Park	Hamilton	0–2	SPL		Hearts Official Site
7 February 2009	Tynecastle Stadium	Falkirk	0–1	SC		Hearts Official Site
14 February 2009	Tynecastle Stadium	Aberdeen	2–1	SPL	Nadé, Driver	Hearts Official Site
21 February 2009	Tynecastle Stadium	St Mirren	1–1	SPL	Jónsson	Hearts Official Site
28 February 2009	Tannadice Park	Dundee United	1–0	SPL	Stewart	Hearts Official Site
4 March 2009	Tynecastle Stadium	Motherwell	2–1	SPL	Driver, Palazuelos	Hearts Official Site
14 March 2009	Easter Road	Hibernian	0–1	SPL		Hearts Official Site
21 March 2009	Ibrox Stadium	Rangers	2–2	SPL	Karipidis, Palazuelos	Hearts Official Site
4 April 2009	Tynecastle Stadium	Kilmarnock	3–1	SPL	Elliot (2), Aguiar	Hearts Official Site
11 April 2009	Tynecastle Stadium	Celtic	1–1	SPL	Aguiar	Hearts Official Site
18 April 2009	Falkirk Stadium	Falkirk	0–0	SPL		Hearts Official Site
3 May 2009	Ibrox Stadium	Rangers	0–2	SPL		Hearts Official Site
7 May 2009	Tynecastle Stadium	Hibernian	0–1	SPL		Hearts Official Site
13 May 2009	Pittodrie Stadium	Aberdeen	0–0	SPL		Hearts Official Site
16 May 2009	Tynecastle Stadium	Dundee United	3–0	SPL	Wallace, Aguiar, Jónsson	Hearts Official Site
24 May 2009	Celtic Park	Celtic	0–0	SPL		Hearts Official Site

Player statistics

NOTE: League appearances only

Shirt No.	Player	Apps (Subs)	Goals	RC
1	Steve Banks	1	0	0
2	Robbie Neilson	25 (2)	0	0
3	Lee Wallace	34	2	2
4	Christophe Berra	23	0	0
5	Christos Karipidis	35	2	1
6	Rubén Palazuelos	18 (6)	2	0
7	Saulius Mikoliūnas	6 (7)	2	0
8	Bruno Aguiar	26	7	0
9	Mike Tullberg	2 (5)	0	0
10	Laryea Kingston	15 (4)	3	0
11	Andrew Driver	29	5	0
12	János Balogh	18 (1)	0	1
14	Christian Nadé	20 (16)	2	0
15	Juho Mäkelä	0 (4)	0	0
16	Adrian Mrowiec	6 (4)	0	0
17	David Obua	21 (6)	2	0
18	Deividas Česnauskis	2 (13)	0	0
19	Jamie Mole	8 (6)	1	0
20	Jason Thomson	8 (2)	0	0
21	Eggert Jónsson	26 (4)	3	1
22	Calum Elliot	8 (4)	2	0
23	Michael Stewart	33 (1)	4	1
25	Marian Kello	13	0	0
26	Marius Žaliūkas	28	2	3
29	Audrius Kšanavičius	4 (5)	1	0
30	Jamie MacDonald	6 (1)	0	0
32	Anthony Basso	0	0	0
39	Ryan McGowan	0	0	0
39	David Templeton	1 (2)	0	0
48	Jonny Stewart	0 (1)	0	0
51	Gary Glen	2 (5)	0	0
73	Arvydas Novikovas	0 (1)	0	0

External links

References

Heart of Midlothian F.C. seasons

1875–76
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2008–09 in Scottish football

« 2007–08 2009–10 »

Domestic leagues	Premier League Football League First Division Second Division Third Division Highland League

Domestic cups	Scottish Cup (Final) League Cup (Final) Challenge Cup (Final) Junior Cup Youth Cup

European competitions	Champions League UEFA Cup Intertoto Cup

Related to national team	Results 2010 World Cup qualifying (UEFA Group 9)

Club seasons

Premier League	Aberdeen Celtic Dundee United Falkirk Hamilton Academical Heart of Midlothian Hibernian Inverness Caledonian Thistle Kilmarnock Motherwell Rangers St. Mirren

First Division	Airdrie United Clyde Dundee Dunfermline Athletic Greenock Morton Livingston Queen of the South Partick Thistle Ross County St. Johnstone

Second Division	Alloa Athletic Arbroath Ayr United Brechin City East Fife Peterhead Queen's Park Raith Rovers Stirling Albion Stranraer

Third Division	Albion Rovers Annan Athletic Berwick Rangers Cowdenbeath Dumbarton East Stirlingshire Elgin City Forfar Athletic Montrose Stenhousemuir

List of Scottish football transfers 2008–09 2008–09 in Scottish reserve and youth football

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