Hasn’t been rocky for Marciano

to marrying his model partner, Shelly.

He said: “I think this is the best choice I have made in my life – except for marrying my wife!

“It’s a really great club, with great people.

“The people appreciate me here. They push me to be a better player, a better person.

“And it’s really great to play in front of amazing fans like we have. The support they give us really is amazing.

“I think the time when I was out injured told me how good the club is.

“I felt the support of people at the club, the confidence they had in me and the desire they had for me to come back and play again.

“The gaffer really trusted me and told me I was his No. 1.

“He really gave me confidence because I didn’t play for two months with really bad injuries but he put me straight back in against Hearts.

“And I am really happy I gave him something back for the confidence he put in me. “I feel great here.” Marciano, who has previously reached two cup semi-finals back in Israel – and lost both – will be making just his second trip to Hampden next weekend.

His previous appearance at the national stadium was to watch Nir Bitton in action for Celtic against Rangers in October’s League Cup semi-final.

The 11-times capped goalie has remained close to his compatriot since finding themselves together again in Scottish football.

And he admits both have talked of a dream cup final clash next month to finish the campaign, and – as things stand – bring the curtain down on Marciano’s Hibs spell.

He added: “That would be nice! We talk about it and joke about it.

“You never know, football is amazing. You never know where you can be in just two or three months.

“We just need to go out and try and work hard and hope for the best thing to happen.

“It would be nice to play against him there instead of watching him.

“I was at the League Cup semi-final between Celtic and Rangers.

“That was the first time I had been at Hampden and it was an amazing experience. But to play there will be even better.”