Hearts: Wouter Vrancken named new Tynecastle head coach after Derek McInnes' switch to Rangers
Hearts name Wouter Vrancken as their new head coach; Belgian replaces Derek McInnes, who left after last season's second-place finish in the Scottish Premiership to join Rangers; Vrancken won the Belgian Cup and was a runner-up in the Belgian Pro League
Thursday 25 June 2026 16:20, UK
Hearts have appointed Wouter Vrancken as their new head coach.
The Belgian replaces Derek McInnes, who left to join Rangers earlier this month.
Vrancken led Sint-Truiden to third place in the Belgian Pro League last season.
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He is tasked with building on Hearts' agonising second-place finish in the Scottish Premiership to Celtic last season, with club captain Lawrence Shankland having also departed to join McInnes at Ibrox.
Vrancken took charge of 331 games during his coaching career across five different Belgian clubs.
He won the Belgian Cup with Mechelen in 2019 and finished runner-up in the country's top flight with Racing Genk in 2022/23.
Hearts' first five fixtures of 2026/27
July
Wednesday 22: Sturm Graz (A) - Champions League qualifying second round first leg
Wednesday 29: Sturm Graz (H) - Champions League qualifying second round second leg
August
Saturday 1: Aberdeen (A) - Live on Sky Sports
Saturday 8: Dundee United (H)
Saturday 22: Falkirk (A)
