Hearts should look at Rosenborg template if they want to build up their European reputation - Ryan Stevenson

Rosenborg. Even just the name conjures up Champions League memories.

And while the truth of where the Norwegians are right now might be a good distance from Europe’s top table the fact of the matter is that Hearts have been handed a seriously tough encounter to kick off their Euro venture. I expect the Norwegians to take care of Crusaders in the second qualifying round, with all due respect. Let’s be honest, every Hearts fan will want the Belfast side to pull off a shock. Not just because it’s a handy wee jaunt across the Irish Sea and a bit of a Battle of Britain. But no matter how dangerous the Irish League side may be they just don’t carry the same weight of Euro prestige as Rosenborg.

I saw a stat that the Norwegians have played 279 games in Europe - and more than half of those Champions League. That’s astonishing really. Hearts in comparison haven’t even hit the 100 mark. The Eliteserian side were Champions League group stage regulars when I was growing up. I remember them beating Real Madrid, AC Milan, Porto, Borussia Dortmund and of course Celtic when they were in their pomp in the late 90s and early 2000s.

They were just ALWAYS there. But much like Scottish clubs they’ve suffered from the financial gulf that’s seen the big boys pull away and now the Norwegians are more likely to be found in the qualifying rounds for the Europa or Conference League.

Even though they’ve not won a Norwegian title in five years and are currently struggling mid-table in their current campaign, they are still Euro heavyweights in my mind simply due to their experience. They spent a million quid on the Canada international Jayden Nelson this year so that shows they’ve still got some power financially too.

That’s what regular