Cathro’s skip to steady the ship
THE days of a captain’s armband being no more than a temporary adornment for a variety of players should, mercifully, be at an end. Ian Cathro has his skipper now. Hearts have their leader on the park.
He’s a local lad who bleeds maroon. A self-confessed ‘moany b ***** d’ who keeps the squad in check.
Most importantly, though, Christophe Berra is an experienced international who wants only to walk the streets of his native Edinburgh with his head held high. And maybe provoke a little enjoyable ire down in the ‘enemy territory’ of Leith.
Head coach Cathro had no qualms about reinstating Berra as club captain right from the outset on his return to the club.
Having landed the former Tynecastle favourite on a three-year deal, squaring the circle for Berra after eight-and-a-half seasons south of the Border, the rookie boss knew that he had bagged his perfect on-field lieutenant.
Addressing the fact that, over the past 18 months, Don Cowie, Alim Ozturk and most recently Perry Kitchen — despite not being a regular starter — had worn the mantle of club captain, Cathro conceded: ‘It’s important that the role is more constant.
‘And it’s also important that we have a number of players who live their lives like that.
‘That’s one of the biggest things that I’m looking to emphasise, that we have a number of players who are capable of delivering that in the changing room.
‘I can’t speak highly enough of Don’s influence on the team, in every aspect over the last three or four months — and he’ll continue to have a lead role in all of those things, as will some others.
‘It’s not something you switch on and off, it’s who they are and how they behave.
‘It’s the role they play amongst people and Don will continue to do that — and Perry will continue to play his part in the leadership of the group.
‘My feeling to this point is that we need more captains and we need more leaders.
‘We need more players of stronger experience, of more resilience, of more games in their background, good moments, bad moments.
‘And knowing they can go past a ten-minute spell in a game that is not going for us. We need more of those players.’
Berra was club captain at Hearts before his move to Wolves, although it’s fair to say he’s probably a more able leader now.
‘I’ve come here and been made captain. It’s a big responsibility for me on and off the pitch,’ he said.
‘Obviously, off the pitch, I live in Edinburgh and walk the streets.
‘I want to be able to walk those streets with my head held high, having won games and done well — not shying away from people because we’ve lost.
‘I’m 32 years old now, ready for the responsibility.’
Trying to explain just what his new boss means when he refers to his ‘character’ as a key attribute, Berra said: ‘Character is being in the changing room and, when things are down, you have to be thick-skinned and keep spirits high.
‘On the pitch, you have to be a moany b ***** d! Scots moan — and that’s fine. People might hate you, but that’s fine because it’s all about getting reactions.
‘I’m not moaning because I don’t like people, I’m just being moany and that can get the best out of people.
‘You also learn who can take it and who can’t and deal with things accordingly.
‘The manager will know the characters and how to deal with things, too.
‘I’ve not come here to think it’s easy. I have pride in my performance and I want to do well as an individual, but also for the team.
‘I want to help the team to do well and help the younger players. Hearts are renowned for bringing young players through and I want to help them come through.
‘I remember good times, but also tough times at Tynecastle and you get through them all.’
The former Wolves man rejected an option to stay with Ipswich partly for family reasons — but also because he missed the specifics of life as a footballer in Edinburgh. For better or worse.
‘Going to Easter Road on the bus for the derby, getting people sticking the finger up at you… you’re buzzing because you know what it means to the people.’