'O Animale'.
That was Pasquale Bruno's fearsome on-park moniker, borne out of a penchant for crunching tackles and the darkish arts that had been absolutely obvious in his two years at Coronary heart of Midlothian between 1995 and 1997.
Absolutely this cannot be the laid-back gentleman on the opposite finish of the road, taking in some early night sunshine in his southern hometown of Lecce, as he picks the bones out of Italian soccer following their World Cup calamity?
Bruno, who marshalled the maroon back-line alongside the likes of Dave MacPherson may need departed Gorgie some 25 years in the past however, even when he is mellowed out since his days as a tough and prepared centre-back, the bond is robust as ever.
So robust, in actual fact, he is getting ready for a return to Edinburgh for the league derby in opposition to Hibs on April 9, a visit that will now be prolonged with the perimeters assembly once more at Hampden for the Scottish Cup semi-final per week later.
Throughout a glittering profession Bruno loved spells at Turin's large two, Juventus and Torino, together with hometown aspect Lecce, Como and Fiorentina.
A UEFA Cup champ and two-time Coppa Italia winner, simply what prompted this stalwart of Serie A to up sticks and head for Tynecastle?
And does he ever assume what may need been, having misplaced two cup finals to Rangers earlier than leaving after which watching from the stands because the 1998 aspect lastly ditched that "all the time the bridesmaid" tag?
File Sport speaks to the person himself as a part of our cult heroes collection.
How did he find yourself in Scotland?
Bruno defined: "Once I was in Fiorentina, actually the final three years (of my Serie A profession) my dream was to go to England to study English and for a brand new expertise.
"I used to be at Man Metropolis when Peter Reid was the supervisor, they let me go.
"A good friend of mine, his agent was in Florence.
"He rang me and mentioned, 'Pasquale, Coronary heart of Midlothian, they need you. They wish to take a look at you in Edinburgh'.
"I would by no means been to Edinburgh however I had heard of Coronary heart of Midlothian due to Joe Jordan.
"He was at Coronary heart of Midlothian and I had performed in opposition to Joe Jordan when he was at AC MIlan. I knew of Coronary heart of Midlothian as a membership, so I mentioned, 'OK, I will go'."
Bruno would play three video games as a trialist, the final of which was an Edinburgh derby victory in opposition to Hibs, and that was sufficient to safe his everlasting signature.
He scored the next week at Parkhead, the one downside being John Collins would fireplace residence a hat-trick in reply.
However from that second on, and as chants of "Bruno, Bruno, Bruno" rang louder, he'd caught the bug.
Why did the followers love him a lot?
A former Juventus participant who goes by 'The Animal' arrives at your membership; would not you?!
However significantly, he was entertaining, laborious as nails and solid from a mould merely unseen within the fashionable sport.
He had confidence and the credentials from an outstanding profession to again it up whereas these within the newly construct Wheatfield Stand would usually gasp from new vantage factors after they noticed large Bruno about to dish out a reducer .
There was additionally the time he shook each participant's hand as he was the primary to be despatched off in a weird match at Ibrox when three extra maroon jerseys adopted him for an early tub.
Former Hearts physio Alan Rae recalled in his guide when Bruno was as soon as requested if he was nervous forward of a European tie.
He matter-of-factly reminded the inquirer, younger Bobby Clyde, that he'd marked Diego Maradona.
And that was the enchantment of him in a nutshell.
Bruno was additionally certainly one of numerous overseas recruits underneath Jim Jefferies that oozed class. His compatriot Stefano Salvatori, dearly missed, stands proud.
Gilles Rousset, Thomas Flogel and naturally Cup legend Stephane Adam had been all related.
There have been no "stepping stones" or concepts above stations of "prime 5 leagues". For Bruno and the others, solely Hearts mattered.
And thats why, 25 years down the road, he nonetheless has such an affinity for the membership.
"It was a fantastic reminiscence and a fantastic second for me," he mentioned. "I loved all of my three years.
"It is a pity I used to be 33 and moved again to Italy for the kids, who had began college, however I loved it a lot."
The place did he go after Hearts?
Basically again residence to Italy, although he did fulfil his dream of enjoying in England with a brief stint at Wigan – and later even got here out of retirement to play as soon as for Craig Levein's Cowdenbeath whereas on vacation in Scotland.
Whereas the remainder of the aforementioned names from abroad stayed for the success at Celtic Park in opposition to Rangers the next yr, Bruno departed in 1997.
He'd been on the receiving finish of Scottish Cup and League Cup Ultimate defeats, each in 1996 in opposition to Rangers. Brian Laudrup and Gordon Durie mixed for 5 objectives within the former however the latter was a close-run affair, the firepower of Ally McCoist and Paul Gascoigne proving an excessive amount of in a 4-3 epic.
Hearts had been getting nearer.
The one downside was Bruno was within the stands for the re-run in Might '98, Colin Cameron's early penalty and Stephane Adam's clincher delivering a primary trophy in 36 years.
He accepts: "For certain (I want I may have performed).
"We misplaced the finals earlier than due to Laudup and Gascoigne, Rangers had nice gamers and had been simply higher than us. They had been nice gamers and we had been across the backside for every of the finals.
"However after they received, I believed I want to be there with them on the pitch. Nevertheless it's soccer, it is life.
"We made it to 2 finals, misplaced them each but it surely was nonetheless a fantastic end result for us. It was a miracle for us to even attain a remaining. Once I arrived at Tynecastle we had been on the backside.
"On the finish of the season we saved ourselves from relegation and reached the Scottish Cup Ultimate, it was a fantastic end result.
"I hope they will make it by way of the semi-final and beat Hibs to succeed in one other remaining. It is my dream."
Nonetheless concerned in lots of aspects of the sport again residence, Bruno is a commentator and an agent.
He even lately linked up with outdated team-mate John Colquhoun, additionally within the agent enterprise, and runs his personal footballing academy.