IAN Cathro has promised the Hearts fans an "enjoyable ride" during his time in charge after agreeing a three-and-a-half year deal to become the new head coach of Hearts today. The 30-year-old Dundonian will be paraded today and take charge for the first time during Saturday’s Ladbrokes Premiership fixture against Rangers at Ibrox.
A former head of youth at Dundee United, where this innovative coach worked under Hearts director of football Craig Levein and implemented the BOX soccer training programme which is currently incorporated into the Hearts academy, Cathro has served as assistant manager in three different European countries. First joining Portuguese side Rio Ave in 2012, he took on a similar role with Spanish giants Valencia in 2014 before being taken to join Steve McLaren's backroom team at Newcastle United. Kept on by Rafa Benitez, where he has been helping the Newcastle side's drive to return to the Barclays Premier League, he has made the decision to take charge of a club for the first time at Tynecastle, where he replaces Robbie Neilson after his departure for MK Dons.
“We are delighted to have secured the services of Ian Cathro and are confident he is the ideal candidate to take our club forward," said Hearts chairwoman Ann Budge. “He is widely regarded as one of the brightest young coaches in the game and has amassed a great deal of experience both at home and abroad. He may only be 30 years of age but we are convinced that he has all the tools required to be a successful head coach.”
While there has been no confirmation yet of Cathro's backroom team, Austin McPhee - Michael O'Neill's assistant manager with Northern Ireland - is thought to be close to the role. "This is a step I've wanted to take, one I've prepared for and I think the circumstances are perfect," Cathro told Hearts TV last night.
"What will the fans get? A team that wants to win. A team that when the first whistle goes - irrespective of the circumstances, the opponent, home, away, rain, sun, no matter what - when the first whistle goes we will expect to win.
"And we will work to find a way in which we believe that we can win. We're going to want to use the ball, we're going to want to be incredibly energetic, we'll want to attack and score goals. We want to be aggressive and be as close to the opponent's goal as we possibly can. We'll make it an exciting place to come. Will it always be perfect? No it won't. But everybody will be at maximum all the time. It could be an enjoyable ride."
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