Stephane Adam

In the summer of 1997, Jim Jefferies was still in the process of rebuilding the Hearts team, something that had been a work in progress since he arrived as manager two years earlier. He knew legendary striker John Robertson was, by now, in the twilight of his career and it was to the Auld Alliance that Jefferies turned to for someone to take on the number nine shirt. He recruited Stephane Adam from French side FC Metz just days before the striker’s 28th birthday and the Frenchman would go on to become a legend in the eyes of the Hearts support.

Adam made his competitive Hearts debut on a Monday evening coming on as a substitute at Ibrox as Hearts lost their first league game of season 1997/98 3-1; however, by the end of the season Adam and Hearts would have the last laugh over Rangers. The Frenchman’s intelligent forward play was the perfect foil for attacking midfielder Colin Cameron and winger Neil McCann. Adam scored ten goals in his first season at Tynecastle - including three in the Scottish Cup. His last goal of the season is one that will never be forgotten by those Hearts fans lucky to have witnessed it. It came in the Scottish Cup Final when Adam pounced on an error by Rangers defender Lorenzo Amoruso to strike a magnificent shot beyond goalkeeper Andy Goram. Adam ran to the ecstatic Hearts support with outstretched arms. It gave Hearts what turned out to be an unassailable lead and end a thirty-six year wait for silverware in Gorgie - and wrote the name of Stephane Adam into Tynecastle folklore.

Adam would become a regular goal scorer for Hearts over the next four years although he was affected by injury that, at times, limited his effectiveness. By May 2002, Craig Levein had taken over as Hearts manager and it became clear the injury prone Adam would not be part of the Fifer’s long-term plans for Hearts. Adam was given a free transfer and returned to France. In 2006, he returned to Scotland for a brief spell to assist his mentor Jim Jefferies in a coaching role at Kilmarnock.

Today, Stephane Adam is coach of French side Lille OSC’s under 19 team - and is still an occasional visitor to Tynecastle.