Omonia’s Lithuanian head coach Valdas Dambrauskas says it is “really special” to lead a team at Tynecastle.
Dambrauskas has previously coached a number of former Hearts players, including late skipper Marius Zaliukas and Deividas Cesnauskis, and is well aware of the club’s previous Lithuanian representation.
Several players from the country turned out for Hearts after Russian-Lithuanian Vladimir Romanov took control of the club in 2005.
“It’s a really special moment to come here. I’m representing a great team from Cyprus but I’m also Lithuanian,” Dambrauskas said.
“You know how much connections we Lithuanians have with Hearts. To be here is a really special moment coaching this game. I’m looking forward to playing against this great club.
“Whenever you say you are playing Hearts the interest is there in Lithuania. Everybody says ‘legendary Hearts’.
“I was living in England at that time and you follow Premier League and Old Firm. But go to Lithuania and it was crazy about Hearts. Four or five players used to start, you had a Lithuanian coach, you waited until the weekend to watch Hearts play. The interest is there and people remember those times very fondly.”