Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Wouter Vrancken is aiming to challenge Glasgow heavyweights Celtic and Rangers for the Scottish Premiership title again, after being appointed as Hearts’ new head coach.
Vrancken put pen to paper on a two-year deal at Tynecastle on Thursday, replacing Derek McInnes, who departed for Rangers last week.
The 47-year-old was last in charge of Belgian Pro League outfit Sint-Truiden and guided them to third in the table last season, their highest finish in 60 years.
He was also named as the division’s Coach of the Year, but decided to leave the club at the end of the 2025-26 campaign in order to seek other opportunities in Europe.
It was reported that Vrancken was of interest to Anderlecht, Burnley, Lorient and Ludogorets, but he opted for the chance to manage Hearts.
“[The remit] is to compete with the Glasgow teams and to try to overachieve again and have a good season, try to fight for the top spots,” Vrancken said.
“We will fight for the best. They had a smell of the title last year, that’s the nicest thing to play for.
“Everybody wants to play for those spots, and we have to try our best to get to the level and get the Hearts I want to see.
“First, being as good as possible at this, then we can have another great season.”
— Heart of Midlothian FC (@JamTarts) June 25, 2026
Along with Sint-Truiden, Vrancken has also taken charge of Lommel, Mechelen, Genk and Gent in his homeland, overseeing 331 matches across his managerial career so far.
Of those games, Vrancken has won 165 of those in all competitions (D73 L93), averaging a win percentage of just under 50%, though he has a tough act to follow at Hearts.
McInnes only managed Hearts for one season, but almost led them to the Scottish Premiership title, only to fall short on the final day of the season.
Hearts went into their last match against Celtic knowing a draw would be enough to clinch their first top-flight title since 1960, but let a lead slip in their 3-1 loss.
They sat at the summit of the table for 250 days and spent 226 days at the top of the pile since October.
Vrancken’s first competitive game in charge of Hearts will be the first leg of their Champions League tie against Sturm Graz in the second qualifying round on July 21.
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