Hearts 5 Hibs 1, 2002: Recounting the Mark de Vries demolition derby

Four-goal Dutchman became instant cult hero at Tynecastle
Hearts' Mark De Vries celebrates his second goal against Hibs at Tynecastle on August 11, 2002. De Vries scored four times in the 5-1 rout. Pic: Andrew StuartHearts' Mark De Vries celebrates his second goal against Hibs at Tynecastle on August 11, 2002. De Vries scored four times in the 5-1 rout. Pic: Andrew Stuart
Hearts' Mark De Vries celebrates his second goal against Hibs at Tynecastle on August 11, 2002. De Vries scored four times in the 5-1 rout. Pic: Andrew Stuart

Ten years before their famous Scottish Cup final win of 2012, another 5-1 derby scoreline was forever etched into the memories of Hearts fans.

Hibs were the visitors on the second day of the 2002-2003 season as Tynecastle undoubtedly witnessed the greatest home debut Scottish football has ever seen.

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Mark de Vries, signed on a free transfer from Dutch club Dordrecht in the summer, had made an inconspicuous first impression from the bench during the opening day draw with Dundee at Dens Park.

But a week later, the towering striker became an instant cult hero in his first start for the Gorgie club, scoring four goals in a one-man demolition of their Edinburgh rivals to write his name into the history books.

He was ably supported by another new signing, former Luton Town winger Jean-Louis Valois, whose virtuoso performance would have grabbed the headlines were it not for the domineering Dutchman.

De Vries even had a hand in the only goal he didn’t score, his physical presence alone causing the Hibs centre-halves to misjudge a kick-out from Anti Niemi, enabling Andy Kirk to race clear and lob the ball beyond Tony Caig for the opener.

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Valois then superbly set-up de Vries for Hearts’ second five minutes before half-time with a stunning outside-of-the-boot flick sending the ball over the Hibs defence for the striker to control before crashing an unstoppable shot in via the underside of the bar.

Hibs briefly threatened a comeback early in the second half when Ian Murray headed home, but de Vries struck again on 66 minutes, rolling the ball into the empty net after Valois saw a volley saved.

The frantic pace of his first Edinburgh derby was beginning to catch-up with a tiring de Vries, but despite heavy legs, the 6ft 4in giant struck twice more in injury-time to turn an already memorable day into a momentous one, brilliantly cutting inside and clipping a finish past Caig for his hat-trick before nodding in at the back post in the final act of the game.

“This was a dream,” admitted de Vries. “I hope, however, that the fans don’t expect four goals every week! I thought I was being taken off 20 minutes from time because I had cramp in both legs but I’m glad I was left on.”

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The performance of his new signing had Hearts boss Craig Levein jumping for joy on the Tynecastle touchline.

“We took a 6-2 doing at Easter Road two seasons ago, before I arrived at the club, so this result today was for our fans,” he said.

Hearts would go on to finish third that season and qualify for Europe.

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