Craig Gordon insists lifting the Scottish Cup as Hearts skipper would be the greatest moment of his remarkable career.
The veteran goalkeeper first won the trophy 16 years ago with the Jambos and went on to gather 12 more major honours including five league titles with Celtic before returning to Tynecastle two years ago.
But he insists NOTHING would match the thrill of leading his boyhood club up the stairs at the national stadium and lifting the silverware in front of his family of Hearts diehards on Saturday.
Gordon’s sensational form at the age of 39 - having missed two years through injury a decade ago - has seen him dripping in player of the year awards having collected his club’s, the Scottish Premiership and the Football Writers’ accolades.
And topping off a superb season with Scottish Cup glory would be the pinnacle of his career.
Gordon said: “I think it would be. I have achieved some pretty amazing things, especially since coming back into football, but to actually be that person that leads your team up the steps .. I don’t think it gets any better.
“That would be something pretty special.
“My family are all Hearts fans so to have them there and see that would be the best moment for them in my entire career, I’ve no doubt. And for me as well.
“To actually lift the cup as the captain – I really don’t think it gets much better than that.
“Hopefully everybody does the business and we manage to make that happen.”
Hearts are underdogs going into the final against a Rangers side who they have taken just one point from in four league meetings this season.
But the Ibrox side come into the showpiece off the back of a demoralising and draining Europa League defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt three days ago.
And Gordon is confident of springing a shock, insisting he’s allowed himself to dream of getting his mitts on the cup.
He said: “I think that’s only natural. There is no point trying to fight that. I would love to do that, everybody would.
“Of course you allow yourself to imagine that and you prepare for the game imagining that is the outcome.
“It might not be but that is certainly what we’re planning for.”
Gordon has won the competition three times and was on the losing side when the Jambos were edged out in a spot kick shootout by Celtic in 2020.
And he said: “The next one always means more. I don’t look back too often but I will when I’m finished.
“We have got a huge opportunity and we will go into it in the best possible shape we can. We’ll see what the outcome is at the end of that.”
