Heart of Midlothian F.C.

Heart of Midlothian
Tynecastle Park
Full nameHeart of Midlothian Football Club
Nickname(s)Hearts
Founded1874; 152 years ago (1874)
GroundTynecastle Park, Edinburgh, Scotland
OwnerFoundation of Hearts
ChairmanScotland Calum Paterson
Head coachBelgium Wouter Vrancken
LeagueScottish Premiership
2025–26 [en]2nd of 12
Websitehttps://www.heartsfc.co.uk/


Heart of Midlothian Football Club, usually called Hearts, is a professional football club in Edinburgh, Scotland. Its men's first team plays in the Scottish Premiership, the top level of men's league football in Scotland. The club plays its home matches at Tynecastle Park.

Hearts began in 1874. Eleven clubs started the Scottish Football League in 1890, and Hearts was one of them. The men's team has won the top Scottish league four times, the Scottish Cup eight times and the Scottish League Cup four times. Hearts' main local rival is Hibernian.

The club also has a women's team. Hearts Women won the Scottish Women's Premier League for the first time in 2025–26.

History

Early years

Nobody recorded the exact date when Hearts began. The club uses 1874 as its founding year because its members began to use the rules of association football during that year.

The club's name comes from the Old Tolbooth in Edinburgh. The building became a prison in 1640 and was called the "Heart of Midlothian".

Hearts joined the Scottish Football Association in 1875. The club moved to the present Tynecastle site in 1886. In 1890, Hearts became one of the eleven clubs that formed the Scottish Football League.

Hearts won its first Scottish Cup in 1891. The club won its first Scottish league title in 1894–95. It won the league again in 1896–97.

First World War

In November 1914, Hearts were leading the Scottish First Division. Three Hearts players were already in military service. Another 13 players joined the 16th Royal Scots on 25 November. The unit became known as McCrae's Battalion.

Seven Hearts first-team players died during the First World War. The club later built a war memorial for its players and members. The memorial was unveiled in 1922.

Later history

Between 1954 and 1963, Hearts won two Scottish league titles, one Scottish Cup and four Scottish League Cups.

In 1998, Hearts beat Rangers 2–1 in the Scottish Cup final. It was the club's first major trophy for 36 years.

In 2012, Hearts beat Hibernian 5–1 in the Scottish Cup final. It was Hearts' eighth win in the competition.

In June 2013, Hearts entered administration. Administration is a legal process used when a company cannot pay its bills. Hearts had debts of about £25 million. The club also started the next league season with a 15-point penalty.

Hearts were relegated from the Scottish Premiership in 2014. The club left administration on 11 June 2014 after Ann Budge took control.

In 2025–26, Hearts finished second in the Scottish Premiership. They went into the last match one point ahead of Celtic. Hearts needed a draw to win the league. Celtic won the match 3–1 and became champions.

Tynecastle, colours and rivalry

Heart of Midlothian

Tynecastle Park is the club's home ground. Hearts have played at the present site since 1886.

Hearts usually play in maroon and white. Maroon is a dark red colour. The club first used maroon shirts in the 1877–78 season.

The club badge is shaped like a heart. It is based on the Heart of Midlothian mosaic on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

Hearts' main local rival is Hibernian. Matches between the two clubs are called Edinburgh derbies. The first known match between them took place on 25 December 1875. Hearts won 1–0.

Ownership

In August 2021, Ann Budge transferred her majority shareholding in Hearts to the Foundation of Hearts. A majority shareholding is more than half of a company's shares. The Foundation is a group of Hearts supporters. It became the club's main owner.

In June 2025, businessman Tony Bloom invested £9.86 million in Hearts. He received 29% of the club in non-voting shares. His shares do not give him voting rights in the club.

Calum Paterson became chairman in 2025. He replaced Ann Budge.

Teams

Men's first team

As of 26 September 2026, the club lists the following players in its men's first team.

Men's first-team squad
Position Player
Goalkeeper Beau Reus
Goalkeeper Zander Clark
Goalkeeper Ryan Fulton
Defender Christian Borchgrevink
Defender Stephen Kingsley
Defender Craig Halkett
Defender Jamie McCart
Defender Stuart Findlay
Defender Harry Milne
Defender Jordi Altena
Defender MJ Kamson-Kamara
Defender Malachi Fagan-Walcott
Midfielder Oisin McEntee
Midfielder Eduardo Ageu
Midfielder Tom Renaud
Midfielder Blair Spittal
Midfielder Leart Kabashi
Midfielder Tómas Magnússon
Midfielder Aron Benjaminsen
Midfielder Yan Dhanda
Midfielder Finlay Pollock
Midfielder Laurent Mendy
Forward Calvin Miller
Forward JJ Williams
Forward Cláudio Braga
Forward Landry Kabore
Forward Elton Kabangu
Forward Josh McPake
Forward Sabri Guendouz
Forward James Wilson
Forward Sabah Kerjota
Forward Rogers Mato
Forward Amadou Ba-Sy

Women's team

The club also has a women's team called Hearts Women. The team plays in the Scottish Women's Premier League, the top level of women's league football in Scotland. Hearts won the league for the first time in 2025–26.

The title also gave Hearts Women a place in European football for the first time.

Main trophies

The men's first team has won four top-level Scottish league titles, eight Scottish Cups and four Scottish League Cups.

Main national trophies won by the men's first team
Competition Wins Winning seasons
Top Scottish league 4 1894–95, 1896–97, 1957–58, 1959–60
Scottish Cup 8 1890–91, 1895–96, 1900–01, 1905–06, 1955–56, 1997–98, 2005–06, 2011–12
Scottish League Cup 4 1954–55, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1962–63

References

  1. 1 2 "Hearts: Ann Budge signs over shares to Foundation of Hearts". BBC Sport. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  2. 1 2 "The Board". Heart of Midlothian F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  3. ↑ "Wouter Vrancken appointed new Head Coach". Heart of Midlothian F.C. 25 June 2026. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Club History". Heart of Midlothian F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  5. 1 2 "Olid 'in shock' after Hearts' SWPL title win". BBC Sport. 24 May 2026. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "Heart of Midlothian Lapel Badge". Scottish Football Museum. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  7. ↑ "150 Years celebrations: 24.25 pre-season friendly". Heart of Midlothian F.C. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  8. ↑ "Heart of Midlothian Football Club (Original)". Imperial War Museums. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  9. ↑ "25 years ago... Hearts end trophy drought". BBC Sport. 16 May 2023. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  10. ↑ "Hibernian 1-5 Hearts". BBC Sport. 19 May 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  11. ↑ "Hearts placed into administration and deducted 15 points". BBC Sport. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  12. ↑ "Hearts: Club exit administration, signing ban lifted". BBC Sport. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  13. ↑ "Celtic clinch the Premiership title". Scottish Professional Football League. 16 May 2026. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  14. ↑ "Tony Bloom investment complete". Heart of Midlothian F.C. 25 June 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  15. ↑ "First Team Squad". Heart of Midlothian F.C. Retrieved 26 September 2026.
  16. ↑ "From amateurs to SWPL champions - how Olid transformed Hearts". BBC Sport. 24 May 2026. Retrieved 26 September 2026.

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