ISMAEL BOUZID'S name would not have been familiar to many Hearts fans prior to his signing, but Tynecastle natives can rest assured knowing their club's recent capture is well acquainted with world football's most iconic figures.
From Ronaldinho to Lionel Messi, Bouzid has faced some of the globe's most celebrated players and intends to use the experience to establish himself in Scotland.
Although born in France, the 25-year-old is a regular member of Algeria's national te
am. International status has brought him face to face with some truly global superstars of the game, so it is clear Hearts have acquired themselves a player of fine repute; one who can also lay claim to a title winner's medal from the Turkish Superleague.
Bouzid addressed the media here in Germany yesterday, speaking for the first time since formally signing his contract on Wednesday evening. Chief amongst the attraction of Scotland was the country's passion and culture, but the defender believes knowledge garnered around the world with Algeria will stand him in good stead for the rigours of an SPL campaign.
"I've played 12 times for Algeria against some of the best players in the world," he explained. "We played Argentina and Brazil back to back and all the big stars were on display. I was marking Ronaldinho and I was lucky enough to get his top. At the time he was the big star and everyone wanted his jersey.
"I also played against Argentina in the Nou Camp and again all the stars were out because they were preparing for the Copa Libertadores. We lost 4-3 and Messi was brilliant but I didn't get his top this time. I got Gabriel Heinze's jersey instead. Playing against these guys really helps you develop as a player and I hope I can come to Scotland and really kick on with Hearts."
Although many in Edinburgh would not have been familiar with Bouzid, he is already well informed on Scottish football.
"I have never been to Scotland before, even on holiday, but I already have a lot of friends who live there so settling in the country won't be a problem," he said.
"I know Madjid Bougherra and Brahim Hemdani very well from the national side and Bougherra told me if I get a chance to move to Scotland I should grab it.
"They have told me the football culture there is very much like it is in Germany. When you are born you love football and every year you get more and more passionate about it. In places like Germany, Turkey and Scotland you choose your team before you learn to walk and you stick with it. It takes over your life and that makes them very passionate when they are in the stands.
"Football fans in Turkey get a bad name but it's unfair. They love the teams and the only time there are real problems are between rival fans when there are derbies on. The noise in a Fenerbahce-Galatasaray match is incredible. Every time you touch the ball the noise is deafening.
"I won the league with Galatasaray and it was an incredible feeling. Istanbul is a huge city and the party went on for days and days. We went through the city in our bus and there were hundreds of thousands of people there to cheer us on."
Bouzid will seek to form a central defensive partnership with another of Hearts' recent signings, Dawid Kucharski, who also sought advice from compatriots before agreeing to leave Poland's Lech Poznan for the SPL. "I know Artur Boruc, Lukasz Zaluska, Adrian Mrowiec and also my good friend Grzegorz Szamotulski," said Kucharski. "I telephoned Lukasz after I had heard from Hearts and I spoke with him about the move. I asked him all about Hearts and he spoke very highly about the club.
"This is my first time out of Poland and I have joined a very good team with a very good coach. I have come to Hearts because, for me, I feel it can make me a better player in the future and improve my career. It was a big decision but I made this decision in one day because my agent also told about the standard of Hearts. For my future, playing at Hearts can make me a better player. If I can become a regular at Hearts, perhaps I can even go to the national team.
"Playing in Europe was also an important factor. When I was at Lech Poznan, we played in the Uefa Cup and last year we made the group stages and then went beyond that. Hearts now have the opportunity to go to the group stages and that would be a good thing."
