Zlamal ready to put down Gorgie roots

BY ALAN MARSHALL NEW Hearts No.1 Zdenek Zlamal is adamant he is finally ready to settle down in Edinburgh after a swathe of brief foreign adventures.

The journeyman 32-year-old has been on the books of Udinese and Bari in Italy, Spanish outfit Cadiz and most recently endured an ill-fated 2016-17 campaign with Turkish cracks Alanyaspor.

But he has struggled to find consistency and contentment outside his homeland of the Czech Republic, where he has turned out for domestic giants Sparta Prague, Slavia Prague and Sigma Olomouc.

After joining the Jambos on a three-year deal from Zlin, Zlamal is adamant Scotland will prove an exception.

The towering stopper has already started to learn English, will be joined in the capital by his wife and children – and has even researched local hikes.

He said: “I have not lasted a long time at the clubs abroad but that is because they were not ideal for me.

“However, I have signed a contract for three years at Hearts because I believe it will be different and be my most successful foreign spell.

“This is the first time I have been abroad in time for the beginning of pre-season training, Before that it was always at the end of the transfer window and the league was already running. This never helps.

“At Hearts I will have a full month of training to adapt, familiarise myself with my team-mates and arrange my private life. Then I can solely focus on football.

“I love to travel and this will be a new experience. I have already sought out all the information about the city and the countryside so we can go for walks.

“Every year we’re somewhere else and my wife says that as soon as she finds friends and settles we leave!”