Steven Whittaker: 'Craig Levein tried to lure me to Hearts but I was always going back to Hibs'

Steven Whittaker (R) in action with Hearts' Ben Garuccio during an Edinburgh derby in 2018. Pic: Paul Devlin, SNS Group

Steven Whittaker has revealed that Hearts made a failed attempt to hijack his return to Hibs three years ago.

The full-back's second spell at Easter Road came to an end when he was released earlier this week, bringing an end to a 10-year association with the club.

The former Scotland international was a boyhood Hearts fan but came through the youth ranks at Hibs, lifting the League Cup in 2007, before earning a move to Rangers.

He departed for England in 2012, winning promotion to the Premier League with Norwich City, before returning to Edinburgh to rejoin Hibs three years ago, despite Craig Levein's attempts to lure him to Tynecastle..

Whittaker told the Daily Record: “There was interest from Hearts but it was always Hibs for me.

“Craig Levein had been my Scotland manager and Ian Cathro was head coach at Hearts but Neil Lennon and Hibs was always my preferred option.

“It was a no-brainer. I also had options to stay down south but Hibs gave me the security of a three-year contract. It was also a club where I had so many happy times first time round.”

Steven Whittaker discusses leaving Hibs, what's next for him and why he wishes he could say goodbye in a feature-length interview here.