Jamie MacDonald has completed his return to Hearts, joining the club’s B Team on a one-year-deal, subject to Scottish FA approval.
The Hall of Fame inductee and 2012 Scottish Cup winner joins Liam Fox’s Wee Jambos to provide quality between the posts and pass on his vast experience from his playing career to the club’s young players.
A product of the Hearts academy himself, Jamie made his debut for the club in 2008, going on to establish himself as number one at Tynecastle before writing his name into club folklore as part of the team that defeated Hibs at Hampden in a 5-1 victory in the Scottish Cup final.
Moves to Falkirk and Kilmarnock followed, with his performances in Ayrshire helping take Killie to their first third placed finish since 1966 in the 2018/19 season.
Spells at Alloa, Raith, and Greenock Morton followed, and he now makes his homecoming to Hearts ahead of another exciting campaign for the B Team in the Lowland League.
Speaking to the Official Hearts Website, B Team Head Coach Liam Fox said: “First and foremost, it’s great to have someone of Jamie’s quality and standing within the game added to our group.
“Not only will he play a part on the pitch, but the learning he’ll provide to our younger players as well. He’s keen to come back, keen to play, and he knows he’ll be held to the same standards as anyone else in the dressing room.
“It might seem like an older goalkeeper will block the pathway, but it’s exactly the opposite. We’ve got two goalkeepers who have just turned full-time, one 16 and the other about to turn 16, and we didn’t want to block their path.
“Jamie will help them find the time to develop and make that next step to the B Team in the year to come.”
Jamie MacDonald added: “I’m delighted. It’s where I started in my career and spent a large part of my life here. To come back and be involved with the B Team is exciting for me.
“It’s a different kind of challenge but one that involved helping the next generation of Hearts players to come through.
“The aim of the B Team is to get the players ready for the first team environment. There’s been success with Aidan Denholm and Macaulay Tait, and that’s what all the other boys should be aspiring to.”
