var playerInfo={"FD159EB5937AD12F4B2E9E75B80D3D16":"Canada","EBC62A89E472008E22ACFCF9251EA2ED":"500,000\u20ac","185D9308B7C9E0BBE486C613A62D93FE":"2","5BAE2FF41BC6AD03489546EF11EAFCB7":"1980-1-21","572BB26E7A76C211":"319","C3DE130B7D4AB7DB":"Kevin McKenna","D39E7C23A464F86D":"1","4FB95329DB27F065AB688F47FF3E7436":"2007-7-2","12F030D6FCEE9D12":"3761","BE541FF326E82F6A":"Koln","EDBF020A791C65EC6DC356F5C22437AB":"23","5BB437CAF240E475":"85kg","41F6CDCCD6C1C3AD77386ED2FC4083F7":"Some things seem to take an eternity. Sometimes the sense of anticipation is dulled by the longevity of the impasse. Yet Craig Levein is certain that his first major summer signing, Kevin McKenna, will be worth his weight in gold. In a recent conversation, Tynecastle coach Peter Houston remarked that he knew the Calgary-born stopper was a player of distinction the first time he ever clapped eyes on him. That was last season, at a time when Hearts were desperately in need of a centre-half. McKenna had just been at Celtic on trial where Martin O'Neill was keen to sign him, but was whisked over to Edinburgh like a hired hand; an unknown quantity.
The very next day, he was in a maroon jersey and, after that, was very rarely out of it until the end of the season when a deal had to be struck with Energie Cottbus for his services, if the 23-year-old Canadian was to stick around in Gorgie any longer. It was the speed of McKenna's arrival which made the wait regarding his signature all the more protracted.
In fact, things happened so quickly that, by the time he had walked out the door in the summer as swiftly as he had walked in, the fans did not even know too much about this competent, assured young player who appeared in a maroon top and instantly became a bedrock of the defence. All they knew was that they liked what they saw; praise enough for any player in an age of ever-growing supporters' demands. "The situation just came up," recalls Kevin, who you sense is as baffled as anyone about the speed of such a big life change for him.
"Hearts needed a centre-half and I was not getting a game back in Europe, so I just came here and played and started enjoying myself. That is the most important thing and that is why I am glad I am here. It took a long time but it finally came together and I am pleased with the whole situation as I think we can do well here."
Born in Canada, McKenna's parents are actually from Paisley. A Celtic-daft family, they were proud he went on trial at Celtic Park but it was Mrs McKenna who actually felt Tynecastle was the place he would make his mark. Kevin came through the ranks at Bundesliga side Energie Cottbus - no mean schooling - and played on two occasions in one of Europe's most unforgiving leagues. However, such a small number of first team games was not enough of a return for so much hard work and McKenna is delighted to be finally applying the defensive theories he crafted over long hours in Germany.
"We had lots of international players and I came through the system. But in Germany when you are young, trying to get through the system is very difficult."
It is not that McKenna regrets this training. "It's a very competitive league and it is a good place to learn," he adds. "But I have had more games at Hearts already than I did in four years in Germany and games are what I need."
Following all the customary haggling over fees, the eventual transfer cost Hearts \uffe1300,000 - 'a steal' in the words of Craig Levein, McKenna believes his game can only be bettered under the guidance of two of the best centre-halves still kicking around Scottish football.
Levein played 462 games for Hearts in 14 years, winning 16 Scotland caps, and his career would have been crowned with greater reward was it not for the injury which cut short his footballing life. On the park, Scottish internationalist Steven Pressley is a rock for McKenna and he is revelling in such exalted company. "I know I can improve my game here and I think the team will improve under the guidance of the manager, even if we have not brought in a lot of new players. Steven is a great influence on the park, he is always shouting and encouraging and you need experienced players like him around.
"We are a young team at Hearts; a new team. But it is good to have young players, as they are always willing to learn. They will fight hard for each other and work hard. But you also need the experienced players to help. It is vital."","B6B40535701B4CD0DB864915DEF06E2A":"","1A49EE26E6AAD5C64FC6A19EFDD00C1A":"Energie Cottbus,Hearts","2278C81F60D7F1ECF170F6DDE4B76865":"Energie Cottbus","7379EA3CEBE73A3F":"190cm","7FB3F46040506B81":"Kevin McKenna","e_index":5};