Pasquale Bruno was ultimate Hearts cult hero as charismatic 90s enforcer reflects on his Gorgie love affair
dailyrecord.co.uk'O Animale'. That was Pasquale Bruno's fearsome on-park moniker, borne out of a penchant for crunching tackles and the dark arts that were fully apparent in his two years at Heart of Midlothian between 1995 and 1997.
Surely this can't be the laid-back gentleman on the other end of the line, taking in some early evening sunshine in his southern hometown of Lecce, as he picks the bones out of Italian football following their World Cup calamity?Bruno, who marshalled the maroon back-line alongside the likes of Dave MacPherson might have departed Gorgie some 25 years ago but, even if he's mellowed out since his days as a rough and ready centre-back, the bond is strong as ever.
So strong, in fact, he's preparing for a return to Edinburgh for the league derby against Hibs on April 9, a trip that may now be extended with the sides meeting again at Hampden for the Scottish Cup semi-final a week later.
Across a glittering career Bruno enjoyed spells at Turin's big two, Juventus and Torino, along with hometown side Lecce, Como and Fiorentina.
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