Hearts have appointed Wouter Vrancken – Belgian football’s manager of the year – as their new head coach a week after Derek McInnes left for Rangers.

The 47-year-old former Genk and Sint-Truiden boss has signed a two-year contract at Tynecastle.

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Vrancken left hometown club Sint-Truiden this summer after leading them to third place in the Belgian Pro League – their highest finish in 60 years – in his first full season in post.

He takes charge of a Hearts side who missed on their first top-flight league title since 1960 after a final-day defeat by champions Celtic.

Having managed four Belgian teams, Vrancken now helms a first club outside his homeland and was “courted by many European sides” before opting for Hearts, the Scottish Premiership club say.

Former midfielder Vrancken began his playing career with Sint-Truiden before going on to Gent, Genk and Mechelen. He would later manage all those clubs.

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Having started his coaching career in Belgium’s lower leagues, his return to the top flight was as assistant at another of his former sides, Kortrijk.

He took over as boss of Mechelen in 2018 and led them to promotion and the Belgian Cup in the same season before three top-eight finishes in the top flight.

With Genk, he missed out on the title in a three-way final-day climax with Royal Antwerp and Union St-Gilloise in 2022.

Genk would win the title in 2025, but by then Vrancken had moved to Gent, who finished sixth.

Joining Sint-Truiden last April, he steered them clear of relegation trouble before turning them into title contenders last season as the club secured Europa League football for the first time.

More to follow.