Ex-Hearts star Ritchie hails Jim and Craig as he sets out on his own managerial career

Yet, the former Hearts star knows better than most why the two veteran campaigners are still going strong in football, having worked under each of them for club and country.

Ritchie will for ever be grateful to Jefferies for giving him his chance at Tynecastle, the defender establishing himself as a first-team regular alongside Pasquale Bruno then David Weir during a spell that culminated with a Scottish Cup triumph at Parkhead in 1998.

And he's got the same respect for Brown, who handed him a Scotland debut in a friendly against Germany – the first of seven full caps to add to those he earned prior to that at under-21 level.

This weekend, Jefferies and Brown will go head-to-head when their sides meet in the Clydesdale Bank Scottish Premier League at Fir Park and Ritchie, for one, will be watching with interest to see who comes out on top.

"I was fortunate to work with Jim and Craig during my career and I was grateful to both for where my career went," said Ritchie, who is currently mulling over a coaching offer from a club in the new MLS 2 in America.

"Jim gave me my competitive debut for Hearts while Craig was the man who gave me my first Scotland cap.

"It is difficult for young coaches like me to get a job at the moment but you can't argue about that when you see what a fantastic job the likes of Jim and Craig are doing at the moment.

"You can't buy the experience or knowledge these guys have – they've been there, done it – and definitely bought the T-shirts!"

Ritchie, who has been doing some Soccer School work for Manchester United to keep himself involved in the game, added: "Jim has a major job on his hands at Hearts but he is already starting to turn things around.

"Jim and Billy Brown are the right men for the job and I'm sure they can get Hearts back up there challenging the likes of Dundee United and Hibs for third place in the next season or two.

"They may have been away for a while but still have a love and affinity for the club and Hearts fans have a lot to look forward to, I am sure.

"What Craig and Archie Knox have done at Motherwell, meanwhile, is nothing short of phenomenal.

"They're unbeaten now in 11 games and it was fantastic that wee Broon got a bit of security in the post as a reward for the fantastic job he's doing.

"I don't think Motherwell have performed to this level for a long time and they've certainly become a force to be reckoned with."

According to Ritchie, Jefferies and Brown are managers who have a knack of getting a little bit extra out of players, something that is clearly being reflected in their latest managerial tasks.

"They are both tactically aware," added the 34-year-old. "No stone is left unturned with Jim and Craig and players will be under no illusions about what is expected of them.

"They've inherited respect. It would be wrong to say there's a fear factor but young players go out knowing they can't afford to let their manager down and that definitely helps get results.

"Jim and Craig are managers who put trust in their players and that makes you go out on a pitch and try to repay them. At Motherwell, in particular, I think they'll also have what I'd call a naughty side.

" If someone isn't doing their job properly, I think Archie Knox will let them know in no uncertain terms."

Along with many others, Ritchie is adamant that Brown doesn't get the credit he deserved for his spell in charge of the national team, during which he led Scotland to Euro 96 and the 1998 World Cup Finals.

"Not at all," he declared. "Indeed, it is only now that a lot of people are starting to realise how well he did with the national team.

"People used to take it for granted that we qualified for major finals and used to be disappointed when we didn't get past the group stage.

"We've never even been to a major final since Craig left the Scotland job and that just goes to show the calibre of manager he is.

"I still think some people are reluctant to give him the credit he deserves. That's crazy because people just don't realise what a good job he did for us.

"It was nothing short of outstanding what he did and, hopefully with Craig Levein now in charge, it won't be too long before Scotland are back at a major finals again. There is nothing worse than sitting down to watch a tournament like the World Cup and your team isn't there."

While Ritchie is still waiting for his big coaching opportunity, he's delighted to see former team-mate Gary Locke, left, back at Tynecastle, where he's working as first-team coach under Jefferies.

"I'm delighted for Lockey," he said. "He's built up a relationship from working with Jim and Billy in the past and people look out for you in circumstances like that. No-one loves Hearts more than Lockey and this is a fantastic opportunity for him early in his coaching career.

"I did my A licence the same time as Lockey and he knows his stuff.

"He's obviously impressed Jim and Billy with the work he did at Kilmarnock and will be an important cog in the wheel at Hearts.

"It's a dream scenario for him. He's supported the club, captained the club and is now the first-team coach. Who knows, he might become the manager one day."

Saturday's game is the latest in a string of tough away tests for Hearts, who won up at Pittodrie just under a fortnight ago before losing narrowly at Tannadice last Sunday.

"It will be another difficult game for Hearts," added Ritchie. "Position-wise, you'd say the most difficult of this three-game away run would have been the Dundee United game and they were unlucky not to get a draw up at Tannadice.

"There are no easy games in the SPL and Motherwell have certainly become a tough team to beat under Craig and Archie. If Hearts want to win on Saturday they will have to earn it by working hard from start to finish."

Both teams will look to young players to shine at Fir Park and Ritchie is delighted that, due to the current financial problems in the game, more kids seem to be getting their chance in the Premier League.

"Teams can't afford to buy top-quality players any longer and that's resulting in more youngsters getting a chance, which is great," he said.

"The fact players are getting that opportunity at clubs like Hearts and Motherwell will help improve the overall standard of the Scottish game.

"And, unless clubs come in with stupid bids, the great thing is that clubs will be able to hold on to these players a bit longer than they might have been able to in the past.

"It is a credit to people like John Murray and Darren Murray that Hearts are continuing to bring through lots of talented kids.

"Lee Wallace certainly didn't look out of place in the Scotland team against the Czech Republic, did he?"