Jose Couceiro can take the reins of Edinburgh "Hearts" © EuroFootball.com

Jose Couceiro can become Vladimir Romanov's employee again. The former head coach of FBK "Kaunas", who has also worked with the Lithuanian national football team, according to Scottish media, may join the leadership of the Edinburgh club "Hearts", which is owned by a businessman from Lithuania.

The 49-year-old Portuguese coached the Moscow "Lokomotiv" team last season, where his assistant was Lithuanian Edgaras Jankauskas, but they finished 7th in the Russian championship and did not earn a contract extension.

At "Hearts" club, which faced financial difficulties last season but managed to finish fifth in Scotland, J. Couceiro could replace another Portuguese, his good friend Paulo Sergio. According to "Record Sport", this would happen if "Hearts" fail to extend the contract with P. Sergio.

J. Couceiro is well known in Scotland, as in 2008, while coaching FBK "Kaunas", he sensationally eliminated Glasgow "Rangers" from the Champions League qualifiers.

Earlier, the Portuguese admitted to the Scottish media that he has always had a good relationship with "Hearts" owner V. Romanov. "Our relationship has always been normal. It's not the president who chooses the team - if you are appointed as a coach, you have to make decisions yourself," J. Couceiro said back then.

In the Lithuanian national football team, the Portuguese worked from 2008 to 2010.