RUSSELL LATAPY has promised himself a couple of pints in Edinburgh on Sunday night if Hibs end their 111-year wait to lift the Scottish Cup.
But if it wasn’t for a few beers too many before the Easter Road men last played Celtic in a final then that hoodoo could have been smashed 12 years ago.
Former party-loving playmaker Latapy enjoyed a night on the tiles with fellow Trinidadian Dwight Yorke just a couple of weeks before the Hampden showdown with the Hoops.
The 44-year-old – back in Scotland this week for the final – missed training following his night out with the ex-Manchester United ace ahead of the Edinburgh derby with Hearts.
Then Hibs boss Alex McLeish binned Latapy from the club in anger and many believe it cost Hibs a chance of the trophy.
Martin O’Neill’s Celtic side ran out 3-0 winners and the wait to parade the Scottish Cup in Leith continued with Latapy on a flight back to Portugal as his former side crashed to defeat.
Latapy would later hook up again with McLeish when he became Rangers boss, the 81-cap former Trinidad and Tobago star having been taken to Ibrox by Dick Advocaat.
Big Eck joked later that Latapy’s night out cost him the chance to become a Hibs managerial legend by winning the Cup – but Latapy claims it’s the other way round.
Given Latapy’s reputation for enjoying a night out during his playing days, it was fitting yesterday’s pre-Cup Final press conference was held at a pub in Glasgow’s Ashton Lane.
Latapy smiled when asked to recall the build-up to the last Hibs-Celtic Scottish Cup Final.
He said: “Your reputation never leaves you. Seriously, it was a strange period for me.
“I had a disagreement with Alex McLeish and was asked to vacate the club. I was on my way back to Portugal so didn’t actually see the final, I was in the air. I’d gone on a night out a couple of weeks before the game.
“Things happened and the club made a decision – through the manager – that I wouldn’t play in the final.
“There will always be a situation where we wish we did something differently. That’s life.
“But if I was asked if I regretted not playing in the Scottish Cup Final, I’d say ‘yes’ as I didn’t have the opportunity to help win it.
“It’s difficult for anyone to miss a final and I was no different but I’ve always respected decisions made by those in a position of authority at clubs. The incident with myself happened two weeks before the final.
“A lot of people think it happened two days before.
“I was told maybe 10 days before the final I was out. I didn’t stay with the team after the
decision was made. It would be unfair for me to say I’d have made a difference.
“What I would say is I’ve always done my best for every team I’ve played for. Had I been selected I’d have done my best.
“I’ve been in Alex’s company on various occasions since and we’ve laughed about that and other situations a few times.
“He’ll say I cost him the Scottish Cup but I’d say it’s the other way around and he cost me the Cup. If Hibs do win this time I’ll definitely have a pint or two. I’ll be staying in Edinburgh on Sunday night to catch up with the boys.”
Latapy doesn’t believe the 111-year jinx hanging over Hibs will weigh heavily on them.
Apart from last season, most of Pat Fenlon’s men haven’t been able to do anything about the wretched record.
But he did have sympathy for the way they were thrashed 5-1 by Hearts in that Hampden collapse 12 months ago.
He said: “It was terrible but that’s football.
“You have those days when everything goes well and days when things don’t go for you.
“We’ve got ourselves back into a position where we can have another bite at it. These young lads will do everything they possibly can to bring the Cup home.
“What is most important is they do the best they can. That’s all we can ask of them and hopefully that will be enough to get a result.
“It’s always too long if you don’t win things. Even if it’s two years. The place will go crazy if Hibs win.
“If the Cup goes back to Easter Road on Sunday it will be well deserved.”