LEAVING Hearts without saying goodbye has rankled with Julien Brellier for a full year. He was unceremoniously bundled out of Tynecastle last May, denied the public farewell platform given to team-mate Takis Fyssas a week previously, and Rudi Skacel 12 months before.
Brellier wouldn't wish to steal any thunder from tomorrow's guest of honour, but appearing in Robbie Neilson's testimonial accords the Frenchman an opportunity for a proper, if belated, adieu.
Speaking from his home in Switzerland, where he now p
lays for FC Sion, he admits he can't wait to experience the spine- tingling emotion of returning to Tynecastle.
The stadium holds the fondest memories of the midfielder's career, not least the Scottish Cup-winning celebrations of two years ago when he carved his name in Hearts folklore.
Relations with the club hierarchy would later turn sour, leading to the premature termination of his contract days before the final match of last season. But his status amongst supporters remains iconic and guarantees a rapturous welcome for the return of a favoured son.
"I hope so," he says. "What I miss most from Edinburgh is the fans so it will be good to share one more day with them.
"I was a bit disappointed when I left Hearts. They told me to go very quickly. I didn't even get a proper chance to say farewell to the team, it was just a few words before training that morning. I didn't want to leave like that but I'm happy to get the opportunity to see everyone again.
"I never got the opportunity to say goodbye to the fans, they were fantastic with me. I'm not the only one because others will want to say thank you as well. I'm really looking forward to tomorrow because it will be a special day."
Neilson only received confirmation of Brellier's attendance last week, but that shouldn't be interpreted as a reluctance to honour the full-back's 12 years' service to Hearts. Sion first required to ensure they avoided relegation from Switzerland's Super League, after which Brellier instantly began planning his trip to Scotland.
He continues: "It's not very often in football that a player can play 12 years with the same club. Robbie has had a very good career and tomorrow will be fantastic for him. He should be remembered as a good player who is very committed and a decent person as well. It's very important for me to be part of his day.
"He called me to ask if I would come and, at the time, we were not safe from relegation. Last week we got the points we needed so I called him to organise everything.
"He was a good friend when I was in Scotland, someone who is really easy to get on with. He's actually a very funny guy even if his accent is terrible. He used to make jokes about my French accent and a few of the Czech boys too, just because our English wasn't so good."
Brellier's experiences in the year since leaving Hearts have been decidedly unremarkable. Before helping secure Sion's safety in Switzerland's top flight he spent five unhappy months in Norfolk, where Peter Grant and Jim Duffy had lured him to assist with Norwich City's English Championship campaign. After the Scottish duo departed Carrow Road the Frenchman was sure to follow, and defecting to Switzerland made sense given its close proximity to his homeland.
Wherever he ventures in football, the 26-year-old knows that May 13, 2006, will always represent a personal pinnacle. "The Scottish Cup win was the best moment of my career," he says. "Everyone knew we had achieved something that day and it will be good to be together and speak about it again. It will bring back a lot of memories for me.
"I was planning to come and visit Ibrahim Tall anyway because our season finishes one week earlier than in Scotland. He was my closest friend at Hearts. I wanted to spend some time in Edinburgh so when Robbie called me it was the perfect opportunity.
"I'm staying on Sunday night to go to Hearts' player of the year dinner and then I fly out on Monday."
At least this time Brellier will leave in the proper fashion.
• TICKETS for the Robbie Neilson testimonial are on sale today, priced £8 for adults and £4 for concessions (U18s, students and over 65s).
Tickets will also be available on the day via cash-only turnstiles, priced £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.
The full article contains 764 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
