Hearts have held talks with Swedish side Hammarby's coach Marti Cifuentes over the vacant manager’s position.
The 40-year-old was linked with the Aberdeen job after Jim Goodwin was axed and is now on the radar of the Tynecastle side. Record Sport understands he spoke with Gorgie chiefs on Tuesday over the prospect of becoming the next permanent boss and was very impressive. Interim Steven Naismith remains favourite but the Hearts hierarchy are keen to explore alternatives, and Cifuentes is one man under consideration.
He led Hammarby to a third place finish in the Swedish Allsvenskan last season, his first at the club, but is under pressure this campaign with just 12 points from their first 11 games which has left them languishing in 11th spot. Cifuentes is no stranger to the British game as he spent time at the coaching academy of Millwall while also having a spell at Ajax.
He returned home in the Spanish lower leagues Rubi, Sant Andreu and Hospitalet before he went to Sweden to become the head up AIK’s youth team and academy. Norwegian side Sandefjord gave him a top team return.
It started with relegation but they kept faith and he took them back to the Eliteserien before he moved to AaB. Cifuentes took over Hammarby early last year.
Naismith is out of the country on a family holiday but has stated his desire to lead the club next season after stepping up into the first team hot seat from his role with the Jambos B side after Robbie Neilson's dismissal back in April.
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