AN OFIR I HAD TO REFUSE
Marciano loves Hibees but knows it’s time to move on
OFIR MARCIANO is desperate to secure a final farewell at Hampden to thank fans properly at the end of his five-year love affair with Hibs.
The Israeli keeper has knocked back a new deal and will leave Easter Road in the summer but insists he will always be a Hibs man.
Marciano arrived on loan from Belgian side Royal Excel Mouscron in August 2016 when Leith was still buzzing off the back of their Scottish Cup victory against Rangers and a year later he signed a four-year deal having helped the club win the Championship.
It’s the Scottish Cup which offers the 31-year-old the best opportunity to say goodbye to the Hibees diehards in person with the hope there could be crowds allowed back in stadiums by the end of May.
Marciano admits it’s a gamble to turn down Hibs’ latest offer in the hope of landing a bigger contract elsewhere.
He said: “Everything in life is a gamble depending on how you look at it. It’s not an easy decision for me because I will always see myself as a Hibs man.
“The club has been so good to me and I have really enjoyed my football here over the last five years.
“It has not been an easy decision but at this moment I think it is something I have to do for myself.
“The club tried their best to keep me here and I have full respect for that.
“We know there is nothing more they can do and my relationship with the club and manager allowed me to come so early and be open with them.”
Marciano admits he was initially reluctant to sign a deal with Hibs when his loan spell came to an end.
He said: “I came here and I never thought I would stay more than a year. I stayed five.
“I had my family here, so for me it’s everything.
“When I first came we were in the Championship and I was a bit hesitant to come to the Scottish second division.
“But we had amazing staff here, the manager and the players. When you see the facilities at the stadium and the training centre it’s really top, top level.
“I am definitely a better goalkeeper now. The biggest thing is the mental improvement. To play for Hibs there are always expectations and demands.
“It took me a while to understand that but now I know every time you pull on the shirt you have a standard you need to reach.
“There are so many fans looking forward to seeing you perform. I would really like to win a trophy for the club and with the fans.
“When I first came I saw all the parades in Edinburgh and the celebrations down Leith Walk. It’s something I have dreamed about repeating.
“With the restrictions I’m not sure we would get those numbers now.
“My focus in the next two months is to do the best I can and give something back to those amazing fans.”
Marciano has the small matter of yet another clash against Scotland this month – his fourth against his adopted country in six months.
This time he could be up against team-mate Kevin Nisbet and he said: “I think I’ve played against Scotland more than any club in the league this year!
“Scotland have made big progress in the last year but we are also on the way there.
“I tease Kevin in training to try and beat me. We have a wee competition between us. I’ll be happy to face him in Tel Aviv.”