Takis still tuned in to Tynecastle

YOU can almost visualise Takis Fyssas relaxing in the sitting room of his Greek Villa: maroon scarf round his neck, mineral water in hand [he's too professional for beer], glued to the Hellenic equivalent of Rob MacLean on television. Since returning to Panathinaikos, it's the closest Fyssas can get to Tynecastle.

The veteran full-back is genuinely enthused at rejoining his former club in Athens but the withdrawal symptoms and cravings for Edinburgh are now beginning to set in. He feeds them by assuming a VIP seat in his own living room whenever Hearts are playing.

Fyssas established himself as an iconic member of the side during two years in Gorgie.

"There are only three things that matter in my life: My family, Panathinaikos and Hearts," he said in May as his contract neared expiry. Now he finds himself watching the club from afar. His passion for all things maroon hasn't diminished just because he is 4000 miles away and, in that respect, satellite TV has been a valuable addition in the Fyssas household.

"I watched the game against Aberdeen in my house," he says.

"Last season my father put satellite in so he could come over to the house and watch me playing. So now I watch Hearts on TV here in Greece. I know everything about the team and I hope they are going to have better luck in the next few games.

"I call my friend Christos Karipidis every few days but I want to say one big thank you to all the Hearts fans who called me when I left. They wanted to know what my next club would be and I wanted to say but I couldn't.

"I'm happy now with Panathinaikos. I will never forget the supporters in Edinburgh and I will never stop thinking about Hearts."

Vladimir Romanov urged Fyssas to reconsider leaving but the strong-minded defender isn't one for going back on decisions.

The positive side of his departure has been the promotion of his 19-year-old deputy, Lee Wallace, with Jose Goncalves offering back-up in the left-back position.

Fyssas continues: "I think Mr Romanov wanted me to help them develop but he knew I wanted to play regularly because I have Euro 2008 coming next summer. I'm not the kind of player who will sit on the bench and watch the other players play.

"I have the quality and I have the confidence to play all the matches.

"When I saw I would not have this at Hearts any more I decided to leave with my family."

It's fair to say the last country Fyssas thought he'd decant to was Greece.

At the time of leaving Edinburgh he had suitors in several high-ranking European leagues, but none could match the package offered by Panathinaikos.

With a wife and young daughter to consider, he opted for a slightly premature homecoming.

"I have to be honest with you, coming back to Greece was my last choice when I left Hearts," he admits.

"I always said I wanted to continue my career in Europe and I expected proposals from Germany and England. I got some but I was not so happy with them.

"When Panathinaikos came in they made a very fast and very attractive offer to me. I thought about my family and I thought about myself. I know Panathinaikos well from before so I think I made a good choice."

A three-year contract provides welcome security for a 34-year-old defender, so it shouldn't be a surprise that Fyssas was quick to commit.

His gentlemanly manner would be an asset at any club, but more than that Panathinaikos coach Jose Peseiro hopes his new signing will bring European know-how in the season ahead.

The Greeks are UEFA Cup seeds, providing Fyssas with continental opposition for the second consecutive season after Hearts' Champions League exploits last year. For such a cultured player, European football was always a big attraction when considering his next club.

"I just finished my conversations with Panathinaikos recently and I'm very happy to sign a contract with them," he says.

"They are my old team and they are the best team in Greece. I'm glad I came back.

"My contract is for three years and the club believe I can play good football for those three years. That made me very happy and gave me belief in myself and made me realise I wanted to be a member of this team."

There is a certain romanticism in his voice which shouldn't just be put down to excitement at the new challenges ahead.

Fyssas speaks exactly the same way whenever football is the subject, so fierce is his passion for the game. He was never short of an opinion during his time in Scotland and is already envisaging a season to remember in Athens.

"I believe we will take the championship and, if we do, I will say something about Hearts afterwards. Maybe on the pitch."

He is reminded of his "Champions League, La, La, La" rendition at Tynecastle in May 2006: "So, you know me well," he laughs. "It is a small dream of mine to do this with Panathinaikos but I don't want to say too much now.

"I want to come back to watch Hearts at some point but you have to understand it's so difficult now.

"We have so many games in the Greek Super League and the UEFA Cup. Then there is the national team, which everybody knows is very important to me because I want to play in Euro 2008.

"If I don't get back to Edinburgh this season I will definitely come back next year to enjoy the city one more time."

Meantime, he's stuck in searing hot Greece with a cool bottle of Volvic and a satellite box for company. Mr Fyssas Snr could never have known just how important that sports subscription would become.