Wouter Vrancken named Hearts head coach for next season

Belgian coach Wouter Vrancken, 47, is set to become the new head coach of Scottish club Hearts next season, after a season at Sint‑Truiden VV and previous speculation linking him with Feyenoord’s vacancy. Vrancken has already held several discussions with the Edinburgh side, and a formal announcement is expected in the coming days.

René Hake and Maarten Martens were also prominently mentioned as potential successors for the Hearts job, but the club appears to have shifted its preference to Vrancken. The shift underscores the growing interest in the Belgian coach after his recent spell in Belgium.

Hearts are currently searching for a replacement for Derek McInnes, who departed to take charge of Rangers FC. The vacancy follows McInnes’s move to the Glasgow rivals earlier this season.

Vrancken has been linked repeatedly with RSC Anderlecht, a club that remains without a permanent head coach. Anderlecht’s ongoing search adds another dimension to the Belgian’s possible career pathways.

Both sides still need to agree on financial terms, but they expect any remaining issues to be resolved shortly. The financial discussion is the last hurdle before Vrancken’s official presentation.

Last season Hearts emerged as Scotland’s surprise package, losing the title on the final day in a direct clash with Celtic. By securing second place they earned a spot in the Champions League second qualifying round, where they will face Austrian side Sturm Graz.