Hearts: Wouter Vrancken named new Tynecastle head coach after Derek McInnes’ switch to Rangers

Hearts: Wouter Vrancken named new Tynecastle head coach after Derek McInnes’ switch to Rangers | Football News

June 25, 2026:

Hearts: Wouter Vrancken named new Tynecastle head coach after Derek McInnes’ switch to Rangers | Football News

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.

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.

Vrancken aims to compete again for the league title

Vrancken says he is aiming to compete with Celtic and Rangers for the Scottish Premiership title after Hearts went close last season.

The Jambos finish two points behind Celtic after losing to the Hoops on the final day, but were eight ahead of Rangers in third.

The new Hearts boss also offered an insight into why he joined the club, saying: “I wanted to go abroad a few years ago but the right thing has to come. Now I was at the end of contract, so I had an opening.

“Then Hearts came and I know a little bit of Hearts because I’m good friends with the technical director of Union [St Gilloise], so you know the link [Tony Bloom].

“But also because of the way they played last year, so that they can compete for the three top places. The stadium, the atmosphere in the stadium, all those things, and the city.

“That’s one of the reasons I came here, to play for those places. To compete with the Glasgow teams and to overachieve again and fight for the top spots.

“The best clubs to work in are those that have ambitions and this is a good ambition. It’s a good point of focus. Now we have to work for it and aim as high as possible and then we’ll see where we land.”

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)

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