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SportHeartsHearts add NINE new January recruit - but that still does not...

Hearts add NINE new January recruit – but that still does not match the entire new team Vladimir Romanov bought in 2006

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Hearts head coach Ian Cathro has presided over a huge January overhaul after signing NINE new players.

But even that tally does not match the ELEVEN new recruits that then owner Vladimir Romanov sanctioned at the start of 2006.

Cathro added striker Esmael Goncavles and Greek pair Alexandros Tziolis and Anastasios Avlonitis to his squad on Monday.

It has been a busy month for the former Newcastle United assistant manager with defenders Aaron Hughes, Lennard Sowah and Andraz Struna, midfielders Malaury Martin and Moha El Ouriachi and striker Dylan Bikey having already checked in at Tynecastle.

The number of new arrivals is likely to have Hearts supporters reminiscing about the January transfer window eleven years ago when then head coach Graham Rix and Romanov signed an entire new team.

Bruno Aguair, Jose Goncalves, Neil McCann, Mirsad Beslija, Rais M’Bolhi, Juho Makela, Lee Johnson, Nerijus Barasa, Chris Hackett, Martin Petras and Ludek Straceny all joined.

The backroom staff was also bolstered after Jim Duffy, who is now in charge at Morton, joined the coaching team before named director of football.

But Rix, who replaced George Burley, did not have much time working with the new players after being sacked two months later.

A tumultuous season did end with success for Hearts after the team finished second behind Celtic to clinch a Champions League qualifying berth before beating Gretna on penalties to lift the Scottish Cup.

 

 

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