Why Craig Gordon is the upgrade of all upgrades in Hearts goalkeepers

Huge part of Tynecastle rebuilding job is complete
Craig Gordon is all smiles after rejoining Hearts.Craig Gordon is all smiles after rejoining Hearts.
Craig Gordon is all smiles after rejoining Hearts.

For 13 years, the notion persisted in Gorgie that Craig Gordon would one day ride back into town to play out his time with Hearts. That day became today when he signed a two-year contract.

The finest goalkeeper ever produced by the Edinburgh club arrived home to fanfare, online celebrations and Zoom calls with media. It is the next step in a rebuild which began with manager Robbie Neilson’s return last week.

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Any manager will confirm that a good team needs a good goalkeeper. Gordon, at 37, remains an excellent one, even after a year of restricted game time with Celtic.

He is easily the best available for free this summer out of those who were within Hearts’ financial grasp. Crucially, he is able to fill what has been a problem position at Tynecastle Park.

To Hearts fans, replacing Joel Pereira with Craig Gordon is the upgrade of all upgrades. They suffered watching goalkeepers cost them a number of points for months, contributing to their team’s slide down the Premiership table. Gordon’s capture should solve the issue.

It also re-acquaints the Tynecastle public with a favourite son. Gordon emerged from the Hearts youth academy in 2003 to reach the heights of Champions League qualifiers. He won the Scottish Cup and departed as a bona fide legend in 2007.

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Gifting his six-figure signing-on fee to Hearts upon joining Sunderland in a record-breaking £9million transfer underlined his attachment to the cause.

He grew up on the Capital’s outskirts wearing a maroon scarf and wanted to give something back. The prospect of a future homecoming was also in his mind at the time.

Over a glittering career with Hearts, Sunderland, Celtic and Scotland, he has proven himself a class apart. Indeed, Gordon’s former captain Steven Pressley declared him the best he has ever worked with in this newspaper only last week. That included Andy Goram.

The pair were part of the infamous Riccarton Three movement when they spoke out against the chaotic reign of former Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov. Yet even the stubborn Russian knew Gordon was too big an asset to ostracise at the time. He was proven correct when Sunderland paid out.

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When you assess others who played in Gorgie before and since, like Henry Smith, Gilles Rousset, Antti Niemi and Jon McLaughlin, it is difficult to see past Gordon’s quality.

Pressley and Neilson both played in front of him and know how accomplished and dedicated he is. Jim Stewart coached him with Hearts and Scotland and raves about his talent and character.

Valdas Ivanauskas led Hearts to that 2006 Scottish Cup triumph and knows it might not have happened without Gordon in goal.

Even at the top level in England, he excelled. A point-plank reflex save to deny Zat Knight from three yards out during Sunderland’s 1-0 win over Bolton Wanderers in 2010 was voted the best save in the history of the Premier League.

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He left Wearside in 2012 as knee injuries denied him two years of his career. At one point, Gordon was forced to deny stories that he was being forced into retirement by the problems. He remained determined to fight back to the top with club and country.

He trained with Rangers in March 2014 but was not offered a contract. Four months later, he joined Celtic and was soon recalled to the Scotland squad.

After six years, six Premiership titles, five Scottish Cups and two League Cups in Glasgow, he is now back to reclaim the No.1 goalkeeping shirt at Tynecastle.

Gordon is in the twilight of his career but will be the best goalkeeper in the division if Hearts find themselves in the Championship next season. Even in the Premiership he would be one of the top candidates.

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He always planned to make up for those two years lost to injury by extending his playing days, and importantly he is in fine physical condition to do so.

He has come full circle and his CV now carries a nice symmetry given he is expected to end his playing days where they began.

There is also the chance to develop a coaching career and inspire another Riccarton academy protege – 18-year-old Harry Stone.

The youngster will soon realise he could not have a better mentor.

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