Heart of Midlothian

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Craig Gordon's "calmness" was his standout quality during a glittering playing career, says former manager Craig Levein.

The Hearts and Scotland goalkeeping great announced his retirement at the age of 42 on Thursday,

Levein, who managed Gordon during his time as Tynecastle boss, recalls the former Celtic man's cool head, even as a youngster.

He also remembers the high standard of training when Gordon was attempting to break into the Hearts first team, given who he was trying to replace.

"Other than superb ability, his calmness was the thing," Levein told BBC Scotland. "Even as a young lad, making his debut and such.

"If I remember correctly, Antti Niemi was with us at the time when Craig was coming to the fore.

"We had some training games with him in one goal and Antti in the other - 0-0 in a training game is unusual, you know.

"From very early on you could tell he was going to be a top, top player."

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Hearts and Scotland great Craig Gordon has announced his retirement from professional football.

The 43-year-old began his footballing journey when he joined the Tynecastle club's academy in 1999, and what followed was a hugely successful career.

In terms of silverware, Gordon won six Scottish top-flight titles with Celtic as well as five League Cups and three Scottish Cups - the latter a trophy he also lifted with Hearts.

Internationally, the goalkeeper earned 84 caps for the Scottish national team and was part of the squad that took Scotland to their first World Cup in almost 30 years.

As the goalkeeper hangs up his gloves, send us your thoughts on Gordon's career.

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Over the past year, Craig Gordon granted BBC cameras unprecedented access to his life at the age of 42, as he attempted to reach a World Cup.

Along the way, we learned about his miracle saves and comebacks from injuries that should have ended his career, yet which allowed him to continue competing at the top level for so many years.

From a prodigy at Hearts to a record breaker in the Premier League and an invincible at Celtic, Gordon has had a career like no other, but there was one thing missing - being part of a World Cup.

To get there, he had to overcome opposition on the pitch as well as the limitations of his own body as he battled injuries to keep the dream alive.

Watch the Gordon edition of Icons of Football on BBC iPlayer

Watch some of Craig Gordon's best saves for Hearts following the goalkeeper's retirement from playing.

READ MORE: Goalkeeping great Gordon announces retirement

WATCH: Icons of Football - Craig Gordon

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In an emotional video, external posted by Hearts, Craig Gordon shared this message upon his retirement...

"Everyone has dreams. Mine were probably no different to most kids: play for my club and my country. Heart of Midlothian and Scotland.

"Improbable? Perhaps. Impossible? Absolutely not.

"Hard work, sacrifices, setbacks. Step by step, dreams become reality. From supporting Hearts to playing for Hearts.

"Years of hard work can never fully prepare you. You want to do yourself proud, you want to do your family proud, you want to do the fans proud.

"There's nothing better than walking out here at Tynecastle, hearing Gorgie roar and celebrating a victory. I've been fortunate enough to enjoy many of them.

"Some brought Edinburgh bragging rights, some brought trophies, some brought European memories. All of them special because I got to share them with the fans.

"I'm not much of a singer, but I improved a little after 84 renditions of the national anthem. The biggest names, at the biggest stadiums, on the biggest stages - I've savoured every moment of it.

"I've never wanted it to end, but end it must. I have lived my dreams and for that, I'm so thankful.

"Thankful for my team-mates and coaches pushing me all the way. Thankful for my opponents for spurring me on. Thankful for the medical staff who have worked with me throughout the years. Thankful to my loved ones for their support. And thankful to the fans for being behind me for 24 years.

"But now the gloves are finally off, and I bid farewell to my playing career. You, the fans have given me everything, and it has been a privilege to represent you.

"I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."

Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken says it is up to the Tynecastle club to find a deal for Forest Green Rovers midfielder Laurent Mendy, 29, and says goalkeeper Liam McFarlane, 21, will go out on loan again. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Beveren goalkeeper Beau Reus has flown to Scotland for a medical before a proposed transfer to Hearts. (Voetbal International - in Dutch, external)

Rangers will find it difficult to afford a move for Hearts forward Claudio Braga, 26, this summer. (Football Insider, external)

Hearts midfielder Macaulay Tait, 20, is set to join fellow Scottish Premiership club St Johnstone. (Courier - subscription required, external)

Thursday's Scottish gossip

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Pierre Landry Kabore and Alexandros Kyziridis scored as Hearts defeated Championship side Arbroath in a pre-season friendly at Gayfield.

Landry Kabore's header had the Edinburgh club ahead at the break before Kyziridis doubled their lead with just over an hour on the clock.

Andy Winter pulled one back for the hosts but it was only a consolation.

Next up, Hearts face Spanish side Rayo Vallecano at Tynecastle on Friday night.

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Liam Ross will leave Southampton to become Hearts' new set-piece specialist.

The Tynecastle club say the former Dundee United and Rangers youth coach has "vast experience on both sides of the border in on-pitch delivery".

He will replace Ross Grant, who left to join Celtic after making a significant impact during his 12 months in Gorgie.

Hearts confirm Ross will start his new role in Wouter Vrancken's backroom team next week when he leaves his position as Southampton's individual development coach.

Forest Green Rovers manager Robbie Savage says Hearts have made contact about Laurent Mendy but have been told the 29-year-old midfielder is not for sale. (Edinburgh Evening News, external)

Ipswich Town will not be making a move for Claudio Braga despite speculation linking the club promoted to the Premier League with the 26-year-old Hearts forward. (Daily Record, external)

Bournemouth are eyeing a move to sign Hearts and Scotland Under-16s goalkeeper Finlay Jamieson. (Football Insider, external)

Read Tuesday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Alan Forrest regards Dundee as "a good fit" after signing up at Dens Park on a two-year deal, with the option of a further year.

The winger, 29, was a free agent after leaving Hearts. He made 142 appearances over four years at Tynecastle, scoring 14 times.

Manager Steven Pressley told Dundee's website: "We've been monitoring Alan's situation for a while and it's excellent to be able to bring him to Dundee.

"He has all the attributes we were looking for in his position, like his one-to-one ability, delivery of crosses and ball carrying and he is very hard working against the ball.

"Alan is someone who knows the Scottish game very well. He's performed well at this level for a number of years and we believe he still has a lot to give."

Before joining Hearts, Forrest turned out for Ayr United and Livingston, playing more than 200 times for the former.

And he said: "As soon as Dundee were interested, I thought it was a good fit for me.

"The way they played last year, they were a match for any team in the league so I'm looking forward to getting started.

"Whether it's helping off the ball or creating and scoring goals, I want to affect games as much as I can."

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Ryan McGowan is confident "there'll be another Cammy Devlin" at former club Hearts before too long.

Australia midfielder Devlin, 28, has left Hearts to join Scottish Premiership rivals Rangers under freedom of contract.

"That's the way that football works," McGowan told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

"There'll be another Cammy Devlin that comes along in the next couple of years and hopefully can go that one step further."

Devlin was a popular player at Hearts, making 171 appearances and scoring eight goals.

"Knowing him, he definitely loved Hearts," McGowan explained. "He enjoyed playing there.

"He's obviously quite happy and settled in Scotland. I know he was interested in going to America and trying something different.

"A combination of going to Rangers and being able to sort of still stay in Scotland where he's settled probably swung it a little bit."

Heart of Midlothian head coach Wouter Vrancken says there have been no concrete offers for Claudio Braga despite reported interest in the 26-year-old forward. (National - subscription required, external)

Sunday's Scottish gossip

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Hearts may have lost Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin to Rangers, but new head coach Wouter Vrancken is sure his squad is still full of leaders.

Shankland had been the captain at Tynecastle, while vice-captain Craig Halkett is not expected to play before 2027 as he recovers from injury.

Experienced duo Frankie Kent and Beni Baningime have also moved on, but Vrancken, who arrived from Sint-Truiden last month, is not worried.

"With Halkett, with Stephen Kingsley, Jamie McCart, Stuart Findlay, Harry Milne, we have a lot of personalities in the group, so the number of leaders is not a problem," he said.

"Of course, we have lost the total central spine of the team, so we have to look to make sure we are strong again. But the guys are pushing really hard and that's nice to work with.

"Most important for me is that the leaders take the responsibility. We don't have officially a captain yet. We have also Craig (Halkett) who is still out until the end of the year. He is also a potential captain, so I'm not concerned about those things."

Hearts have made seven signings this summer but Vrancken is now seeking a deep-lying midfielder fill the void left by the influential Devlin.

"It's difficult to say now because we have already a big group of players, a lot of players now," Vrancken said when asked how many new recruits he needs.

"We have to see that the group is not too big, but we need some quality."

Striker Claudio Braga has been linked with Lyon and Ipswich Town in recent weeks although Vrancken said: "What I've heard is nothing on the table, nothing concrete yet.

"I have an open and honest communication and relationship with Claudio about those things, so, nothing (to report) at the moment."

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New signing Tom Renaud scored as Hearts lost 2-1 to hosts Livingston in Friday evening's pre-season game.

All of the goals came in the first half of the match, which was a testimonial for long-serving Livi midfielder Scott Pittman.

Renaud struck for the visitors after Cammy Palmer and Tyrese Sinclair had headed goals for the hosts.

Harry Milne captained Wouter Vrancken's side, with summer recruits MJ Kamson-Kamara, Rogers Mato, Josh McPake and Calvin Miller all starting.

Teenage signing Cormac Daly was among a raft of substitutes that came on for the final 19 minutes, with Zander Clark taking over from Ryan Fulton in goal at half-time.

Forward Elton Kabangu and midfielder Sander Kartum also played the second half.

Both Clark and Kartum were loaned out by Hearts last season.

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Cammy Devlin is leaving Hearts as a free agent after failing to agree new terms.

The Australia midfielder, 28, moved to Tynecastle in August 2021 and made 176 appearances for the Edinburgh club.

He was a key player last season as Hearts pushed champions Celtic all the way in a title-race that was settled on the final day.

"Heart of Midlothian can confirm that Cammy Devlin will not be returning to the club," read a social media statement.

"Cammy was given a deadline by the club to commit to taking up the offer of a new deal, which he has failed to meet, and therefore leaves under freedom of contract."

Sydney-born Devlin was at the World Cup with Australia but did not feature in any of their four matches in Canada and the United States.

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Cammy Devlin has had positive talks with new Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken as the 28-year-old Australia midfielder weighs up accepting a new contract offer or moving on as a free agent. (Hearts Standard - subscription required, external)

Brazilian midfielder Ageu, 24, is eager to make an impact at Hearts after the club's record signing missing most of last season through injury. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

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Ipswich Town and Trabzonspor have joined Lyon in expressing an interest in 26-year-old Heart of Midlothian forward Claudio Braga. (Record via Scottish Sun, external)

Hearts have rekindled their interest in Forest Green Rovers defender Laurent Mendy and made a new move after having a bid for the 29-year-old Frenchman rejected in the January transfer window. (Pete O'Rourke on X, external)