Hearts are set to appoint Wouter Vrancken as Derek McInnes’ successor at Tynecastle, closing another part of the managerial chain that carried McInnes to Rangers.
The Belgian coach is expected to take charge in the coming days, according to Sky Sports’ report on Vrancken and Hearts. That matters at Ibrox because Rangers have not only taken Hearts’ manager, they have also placed one of last season’s closest domestic rivals into a reset of their own.
McInnes left Hearts after guiding them to second in the Scottish Premiership, above Rangers, before agreeing his return to Ibrox. Hearts now look ready to answer with a coach whose CV includes a Belgian Cup win with Mechelen in 2019 and a second-placed Belgian Pro League finish with Racing Genk two years ago.
Why Rangers will watch this closely
For Rangers, the appointment is not a headline from elsewhere. Hearts were a direct benchmark last season and their ability to settle quickly under Vrancken could influence how much pressure McInnes faces in the opening months of his own rebuild.
The timing also sharpens the story. Hearts have European qualifiers ahead and pre-season work to begin, while Rangers are trying to turn McInnes’ arrival into immediate authority rather than another transitional summer. If Vrancken is confirmed, both clubs will enter the new campaign with new managers and little room for drift.
