Champions League
Wouter Vrancken signs two-year deal to coach Heart of Midlothian
Wouter Vrancken has signed a two‑season contract to become head coach of Scottish club Heart of Midlothian, replacing Derek McInnes and marking his first managerial appointment outside Belgium. The move was confirmed on Thursday and comes after Hearts secured a place in the Champions League qualifiers.
The club’s website quoted: “Ondanks interesse van verschillende Europese clubs koos hij uiteindelijk voor Heart of Midlothian”. The statement underlines the competition Hearts faced to secure Vrancken’s services.
Vrancken succeeds Derek McInnes, who departed after a season in which Hearts appeared poised to win the Scottish title before Celtic clinched the championship. McInnes’s exit opened the door for the Belgian coach.
In his last season with STVV, Vrancken guided the team to a third‑place finish and earned European football for Stayen. The achievement highlighted his ability to compete at the upper end of the Belgian league.
Vrancken began his senior managerial career as T1 at KV Mechelen in 2018, leading the club to promotion to the top tier and securing the Belgian Cup. Those early successes established his reputation in Belgium.
He later took charge of KRC Genk, where his tenure ended at the close of the 2023/24 season in Limburg. The departure marked the conclusion of his spell with the Smurfen.
After Genk, Vrancken worked at KAA Gent before taking the helm at STVV in April 2025. His progression through Belgian clubs set the stage for his move abroad.
Hearts aim to return to the top of the Scottish Premiership and have already entered the Champions League qualifying rounds. The club expects Vrancken to implement an attacking style and drive further sporting growth.