Hearts have announced the appointment of Derek McInnes as their new boss on a four-year contract.
The Tynecastle club made their move to recruit the 53-year-old from Kilmarnock earlier this month after Neil Critchley became the second manager to be sacked in what was a largely dispiriting campaign for the Jambos.
Hearts said in a statement: “Heart of Midlothian is delighted to confirm the appointment of Derek McInnes as the club’s new head coach.
“A hugely experienced manager, with a proven track record of competing at the top end of the Scottish Premiership and in Europe, Derek will lead the Jambos into a new era after signing a four-year deal at Tynecastle Park.
“Joining Derek in Gorgie will be his first-team coaches Paul Sheerin and Alan Archibald, with the trio making the move from Kilmarnock, subject to Scottish FA approval.”
Hearts caretaker Liam Fox will leave the Edinburgh club after overseeing four consecutive victories in the bottom six to end the season.
Hearts, who used their partnership with Jamestown Analytics to aid their search for Critchley’s successor, wanted a manager with experience of Scottish football and McInnes, who has enjoyed relative success with each of the three Scottish clubs he has managed, swiftly emerged as their preferred candidate.
The club added: “He transformed the fortunes of Aberdeen during an eight-year spell at Pittodrie. Never finishing outside of the top four in his seven full seasons, he led them to four consecutive second-place finishes, reached four cup finals and lifted the Scottish League Cup.
“Derek took the Dons into Europe seven years in a row, narrowly missing out on the group stages after being edged out by the likes of Sporting Lisbon and Burnley.
“At Kilmarnock, he won promotion back into the Premiership in his first season before steering them to fourth place in 2023/24 and a European run followed.”
McInnes is charged with the task of getting Hearts back on track after a season in which they were undermined by a disastrous start under Steven Naismith and then finished in the bottom six after three consecutive top-four finishes.
Kilmarnock said following McInnes’ departure: “Derek joined Killie in January 2022 and has played a pivotal role in the progress of the club over the past three years, leading us to promotion from the Championship in his first season and securing our Premiership status with strong finishes in subsequent campaigns – including a fourth-place finish and three European ties.
“Everyone at Kilmarnock FC would like to place on record our sincere thanks to Derek for the significant contribution he has made during his time at BBSP Stadium, Rugby Park.”
Hearts’ new head coach will face the media on Monday afternoon.
