Rudi Skacel will return to Tynecastle for Gary Locke ’s testimonial.
Hearts take on Stoke City at Tynecastle on Saturday, July 23 to honour Locke’s years of service to his boyhood club. The current jambos ambassador has played for captained, coached and managed Hearts over several spells in Gorgie. Fans favourite Skacel will make an appearance against the Potters in what will be a final warm-up game for Robbie Neilson’s men ahead of their opening Premiership fixture at home to Ross County seven days later.
He will take part in a half-time penalty shoot-out and be interviewed on the pitch. Fans will be keen to hear from the bondife Hearts legend, whose exploits in maroon make him a box office draw whenever he’s back in the capital. Locke was first-team coach under Jim Jefferies and Billy Brown when the Czech international returned to the club in 2010. He first departed four years after leaving for Southampton following an explosive loan from Marseille during the 2005/2006 campaign.
Skacel led the scoring charts alongside Paul Hartley as Hearts finished second in the league and won the Scottish Cup. George Burley got them off to a flyer before his controversial sacking, before Graham Rix and Valdas Ivanauskas succeeded him under Vladimir Romanov. Skacel netted the opener in the final against Gretna before converting his spot-kick as they won a nerve-shredding penalty shoot-out to lift the trophy.
But his finest hour came in his final game for the club. A 5-1 demolition of Hibs in the 2012 final ensured Paulo Sergio’s squad went down in history. Skacel scored twice, putting them 2-0 at Hampden before adding the icing on the derby cake with Hearts’ fifth that went in off the post.
He returned to Scotland the following season for a short spell with Dundee United, before teaming up with Locke once more at Raith Rovers three years later. Skacel played against his former club in the Scottish Cup last year, helping the Fife side earn a replay after a 1-1 draw at Stark’s Park before Ian Cathro’s side eventually won at the second attempt
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