View source for Heart of Midlothian F.C.

{{Short description|Association football club in Edinburgh, Scotland}}
{{Redirect|HMFC|the Chinese football club|Haikou Mingcheng F.C.}}
{{About|the men's football club|the women's football club|Heart of Midlothian W.F.C.}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{EngvarB|date=May 2020}}
{{Infobox football club
| clubname = Heart of Midlothian
| image = Heart of Midlothian FC logo.svg
| image_size = 200px
| fullname = Heart of Midlothian Football Club
| nickname = Hearts<br />The Jam Tarts<br />HMFC<br />The Jambos<br />The Gorgie Boys
| current = 2025–26 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1874}}
| ground = [[Tynecastle Park]], [[Edinburgh]]
| capacity = {{SPFL-stadiums|hearts}}<ref name=capacity>{{cite web|url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/559017/response/1360570/attach/3/22613%20General%20Safety%20Cert%20Tynecastle%2031%20Oct%202018.pdf|title=Tynecastle Park Safety Certificate, issued October 2018|date=31 October 2018}}</ref>
| chairman = Calum Paterson
| chrtitle = 
| manager = [[Derek McInnes]]
| mgrtitle = Head coach
| league = {{Scottish football updater|HeartofM}}
| season = {{Scottish football updater|HeartofM2}}
| position = {{Scottish football updater|HeartofM3}}
| pattern_la1 = _hearts2526h
| pattern_b1 = _hearts2526h
| pattern_ra1 = _hearts2526h
| pattern_sh1 = _hearts2526h
| pattern_so1 = _hearts2526hl
| leftarm1 = 601F2E
| body1 = 601F2E
| rightarm1 = 601F2E
| shorts1 = FFFFFF
| socks1 = 601F2E
| pattern_la2 = _hearts2526a
| pattern_b2 =_hearts2526a
| pattern_ra2 = _hearts2526a
| pattern_sh2 =_hearts2526a
| pattern_so2 = _hearts2526al
| leftarm2 = ffffff
| body2 = ffffff
| rightarm2 = ffffff
| shorts2 = 601F2E
| socks2 = ffffff
| pattern_la3 = _hearts2526t
| pattern_b3 = _hearts2526t
| pattern_ra3 =_hearts2526t
| pattern_sh3 = _hearts2526t
| pattern_so3 = 
| leftarm3 =000000
| body3 = 000000
| rightarm3 = 000000
| shorts3 = 000000
| socks3 = 000000
| website = {{URL|https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/|heartsfc.co.uk}}
}}
{{Heart of Midlothian F.C. Departments}}
'''Heart of Midlothian Football Club''', commonly known as '''Hearts''', is a professional [[Association football|football]] club in [[Edinburgh]], [[Scotland]]. The team competes in the {{Scottish football updater|HeartofM}}, the top division of [[Scottish football league system|Scottish football]]. Hearts, the oldest football club in the Scottish capital,<ref>{{cite book |last= Bowie|first=Andrew-Henry |date=2011 |title=Two miles to Tynecastle |location=Clacton on Sea |publisher=Apex}}</ref> was formed in 1874, its name influenced by [[Walter Scott]]'s novel ''[[The Heart of Midlothian]]''.<ref name="1874-1884"/> The club crest is based on the [[Heart of Midlothian (Royal Mile)|Heart of Midlothian mosaic]] on the city's [[Royal Mile]]; the team's colours are maroon and white.<ref name="1874-1884"/> Their local rivals are [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]], with whom they contest the [[Edinburgh derby]].

Hearts have played home matches at [[Tynecastle Park]] since 1886.<ref name = "Inglis447">{{harvnb|Inglis|1996|p=447}}</ref> After the ground was converted into an all-seater stadium in 1990, it now has a capacity of {{SPFL-stadiums|hearts}}<ref name=capacity/> following the completion of a rebuilt main stand in 2017. They have training facilities at the [[Oriam]], Scotland's national performance centre for sport, where they also run their [[Heart of Midlothian F.C. Reserves and Academy|youth academy]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scottishfa.co.uk/performance/oriam/ |title=Oriam - The jewel in the crown of Scottish sport |work=Scottish FA |access-date=24 September 2018}}</ref>

Hearts have won the [[List of Scottish football champions|Scottish league championship]] four times, most recently in [[1959–60 Scottish Division One|1959–60]], when they also retained the [[1959 Scottish League Cup final|Scottish League Cup]] to complete a [[Double (association football)#League & League Cup Double|League and League Cup double]]&nbsp;– the only club outside of the [[Old Firm]] to achieve such a feat.

The club's most successful period was under former player turned manager [[Tommy Walker (footballer, born 1915)|Tommy Walker]] from the early 1950s to mid 1960s, during which they won two league titles and five major cups and finished inside the league's top four positions for 11 consecutive seasons. [[Jimmy Wardhaugh]], [[Willie Bauld]] and [[Alfie Conn Sr.]], known as the Terrible Trio, were forwards at the start of this period with wing half linchpins [[Dave Mackay]] and [[John Cumming (Scottish footballer)|John Cumming]]. Wardhaugh was part of another notable Hearts attacking trinity in the [[1957–58 Scottish Division One|1957–58]] league winning side: along with [[Jimmy Murray (footballer, born 1933)|Jimmy Murray]] and [[Alex Young (footballer, born 1937)|Alex Young]],<ref name=lh1956>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/sea/1957-58.html|title=1957-58|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> they set the record for the number of goals scored in a Scottish top-flight winning campaign (132) and also became the only side to finish a season in the Scottish top tier with a goal difference exceeding 100 (+103).

Hearts have won the [[Scottish Cup]] eight times, most recently in [[2012 Scottish Cup final|2012]] after a 5–1 victory over Hibernian.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18044372|title=Hibernian 1 Hearts 5|date=19 May 2012|work=BBC Sport|access-date=22 May 2012}}</ref> They have since been beaten finalists in [[2019 Scottish Cup final|2019]], [[2020 Scottish Cup final|2020]] and [[2022 Scottish Cup final|2022]]. All four of Hearts' [[Scottish League Cup]] triumphs came under Walker, most recently a 1–0 victory against [[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] in [[1962 Scottish League Cup final|1962]]. Their most recent League Cup Final appearance was in [[2013 Scottish League Cup final|2013]], where they lost 3–2 to [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]].

In 1958, Heart of Midlothian became the third [[Football in Scotland|Scottish]] and fifth [[Football in the United Kingdom|British]] team to compete in [[UEFA#Competitions|European competition]]. The club reached the quarter-finals of the [[1988–89 UEFA Cup]], losing to [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] 2–1 on aggregate.

== History ==
{{See also|List of Heart of Midlothian F.C. seasons}}

=== Early years ===
The club was formed by a group of friends from the Heart of Midlothian Quadrille Assembly Club.<ref name="1874-1884" /> The group of friends bought a ball before playing local rules football at the Tron from where they were directed by a local policeman to The Meadows to play. Local rules football was a mix of rugby and association football.<ref name="1874-1884" /> In December 1873 a match was held between XIs selected by Mr Thomson from [[Queen's Park F.C.|Queen's Park]] and Mr Gardner from [[Clydesdale F.C.|Clydesdale]] at Raimes Park in [[Bonnington, Edinburgh|Bonnington]].<ref name="P56">{{cite book | title=McCrae's Battalion | last=Alexander | first=Jack | page=56 | isbn=1-84018-707-7| year=2003 | publisher=Mainstream }}</ref> This was the first time that association rules had been seen in Edinburgh. Members from the dance club viewed the match and in 1874 decided to adopt the association rules.<ref name="p24">{{cite book | url=http://www.londonhearts.com/images/mack02/pages/p024.htm | title=The Hearts | publisher=London Hearts | work=Albert Mackie | access-date=10 October 2011}}</ref> The new side was Heart of Mid-Lothian Football Club.<ref name="1874-1884" /> The exact date of the club's formation was never recorded; however, 1874 is regarded as the year of formation as it was when association rules were taken on,<ref name="1874-1884" /> although [[Tom Purdie]] claimed the club was formed in 1873.<ref name="P27">{{cite web | url=http://www.londonhearts.com/images/mack02/pages/p027.htm | title=The Hearts | publisher=London Hearts | work=Albert Mackie | access-date=10 October 2011}}</ref> The earliest mention of ''Heart of Midlothian'' in a sporting context is a report in ''[[The Scotsman]]'' newspaper from 20 July 1864 of ''The Scotsman'' vs Heart of Mid-Lothian at cricket. It is not known if this was the same club who went on to form the football club, but it was common for football clubs in those days to play other sports as well.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/images/1864/1864072001.jpg |title=From 20 July 1864 of the Scotsman| publisher= London Hearts Supporter Club|access-date=13 June 2012}}</ref>

The club took its name from historic county [[Midlothian]], dating from the [[Middle Ages]], as well as the [[Heart of Midlothian (Royal Mile)|Heart of Midlothian]] mosaic on the [[Royal Mile]], which marks the historic entrance to the [[Old Tolbooth, Edinburgh|Old Tolbooth]] jail,<ref name="1874-1884">{{cite web|first1=David |last1=Speed |url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20061108/1874-1884_2241543_924903 |title=History: 1874–1884 |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. |access-date=21 August 2010 |last2=Knight |first2=Alex |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110211181112/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20061108/1874-1884_2241543_924903 |archive-date=11 February 2011 }}</ref> which was demolished in 1817 but was kept fresh in the mind by [[Walter Scott]]'s novel ''[[The Heart of Midlothian]]''.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://londonhearts.com/images/mack02/pages/p029.htm|title=The Hearts: The story of the Heart of Midlothian F.C.|first=Albert|last=Mackie|year=1959|location=London|publisher=Stanley Paul|page=29}} {{ASIN|B0000CKD66|country=uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=McCrae's Battalion |last=Alexander |first=Jack |isbn=1-84018-707-7 |page=55 |year=2003 |publisher=Mainstream }}</ref>

[[File:Hearts team 1875.jpg|thumb|The 1875 Hearts team with the original white shirt]]
Led by captain Tom Purdie the club played its matches in the East Meadows<ref name="P56" /> and in 1875 Hearts became members of the [[Scottish Football Association]] (SFA) and were founder members of the Edinburgh Football Association.<ref name="1874-1884" /> By becoming members of the SFA Hearts were able to play in the [[Scottish Cup]] for the first time. Hearts played against [[3rd Edinburgh Rifle Volunteers F.C.]] in October 1875 at Craigmount Park<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/187510161.html|title=Games: Sat 16 Oct 1875   |publisher= Hearts of London Supporter Club|access-date=13 June 2012}}</ref> in Edinburgh. The game ended in a scoreless draw. A replay was held at the Meadows which again finished 0–0. Under rules at the time both clubs progressed to the next round with Hearts losing out to Drumpellier in the next round.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scotcuphistfull.html|title=Scotland&nbsp;– Cup Results 1873/74-1877/78 and 1889/90-1995/96|access-date= 13 June 2012|first= Dinant|last= Abbink|date=  2 May 2007}}</ref>

In the [[1884–85 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|1884–85]] season, clubs in Scotland struggled to attract quality players who preferred to play professionally in England.<ref name="1874-1884" /> After an 11–1 win in the [[Scottish Cup]] over Dunfermline<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/188410041.html | title=Sat 04 Oct 1884 Scottish Cup Dunfermline 1 Hearts 11 | publisher=London Hearts | access-date=10 October 2011}}</ref> a protest was raised against the club for fielding two professional players, which was against the rules at the time.<ref name="1874-1884" /> Hearts were suspended by the SFA for two years - the first ever suspension of an SFA club.<ref name="P20">{{cite book | url=http://www.londonhearts.com/images/reid1924/pages/docu0011.htm | title=The Hearts 1874 to 1924 | publisher=London Hearts | work=William Reid | access-date=10 October 2011}}</ref> They were readmitted after a change of the club's committee.<ref name="1874-1884" />

=== Early success ===
Hearts had considerable success in the early years of the [[Scottish Football League]], winning the league championship in [[1894–95 in Scottish football|1895]] and [[1895–96 in Scottish football|1896]]. They also won four [[Scottish Cup]]s in a 15-year period from 1891 to 1906. The team played against [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] in the [[1895 World Championship (football)|1894–95 World Championship]], but lost with a 5–3 score.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2020/apr/25/even-when-sunderland-ruled-the-globe-club-world-cups-were-controversial|title=Sunderland's Victorian all-stars blazed trail for money's rule of football |work=The Guardian |author=Jonathan Wilson|date=25 April 2020|access-date=16 May 2020}}</ref> Hearts did win the World Championship title in 1902, beating [[Tottenham Hotspur]] 3–1 in [[Tynecastle Park]], after a 0–0 in London a few months earlier.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/190201021.html|title=1902-01-02 Thu Hearts 3 Tottenham Hotspur 1|website=Londonhearts.com}}</ref>

=== Hearts in World War I ===
[[File:The Heart of Midlothian War Memorial.jpg|right|thumb|125px|Hearts War Memorial]]
{{Main|Heart of Midlothian F.C. and World War I|McCrae's Battalion}}
{{cquote|''Do not ask where Hearts are playing and then look at me askance. If it's football that you're wanting, you must come with us to France!''|author=[[George McCrae (politician)|Sir George McCrae]]}}
In November 1914, Heart of Midlothian comfortably led the First Division,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20101026/contalmaison-and-a-tribute-to-mccraes_2241384_2190827 |title=Contalmaison and a tribute to McCrae's |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. |work=Hearts News |date=26 October 2010 |access-date=9 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101029204725/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20101026/contalmaison-and-a-tribute-to-mccraes_2241384_2190827 |archive-date=29 October 2010 }}</ref> having started the [[1914–15 in Scottish football|1914–15 season]] with eight straight victories, including a 2–0 defeat of reigning champions [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/191408151.html | title=Sat 15 Aug 1914 Division 1 Hearts 2 Celtic 0 | publisher=London Hearts | access-date=21 October 2011}}</ref>

This streak coincided with the start of [[World War I]] and the beginnings of a public debate upon the morality of continuing professional football while young soldiers were dying on the front-line. A motion was placed before the [[Scottish Football Association]] to postpone the season, with one of its backers, [[Airdrieonians F.C. (1878)|Airdrieonians]] chairman Thomas Forsyth declaring that ''"playing football while our men are fighting is repugnant"''.<ref name="ballot">''McCrae's Battalion'', 15</ref> While this motion was defeated at the [[ballot box]], with the SFA opting to wait for War Office advice, the East London philanthropist [[Frederick Nicholas Charrington]] was orchestrating a public campaign to have professional football in Britain suspended, and achieving great popular support for his cause.<ref name="Charrington">''McCrae's Battalion'', 21–24</ref> The prime tactic of Charrington's campaign was to shame football players and officials into action through public and private denouncement. In response, sixteen players from Hearts enlisted in [[George McCrae (MP)|Sir George McCrae]]'s new volunteer battalion, joining en masse on 25 November 1914. The battalion was to become the 16th Royal Scots and was the first to earn the "footballer's battalion" sobriquet. The group of volunteers also contained some 500 Hearts supporters and ticket-holders, 150 followers of Hibernian and a number of professional footballers from Raith Rovers, Falkirk and Dunfermline.<ref name="Museum">{{cite web| title=Soccer Soldiers: Footballers go to war| work=The National Army Museum| url=http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/exhibitions/football/page2.shtml| access-date=19 March 2007| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071006001158/http://www.national-army-museum.ac.uk/exhibitions/football/page2.shtml| archive-date=6 October 2007| df=dmy-all}}</ref>

Military training was thus added to the Hearts players football training regime, and the side had a 20-game unbeaten run between October and February.<ref name="Season">{{cite web|title=Scotland 1914–15| work=The RSSSF| url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/scot15.html | access-date=19 March 2007}}</ref> However, exhaustion from their army exertions, twice including 10-hour nocturnal-marches the night before a league game,<ref name="training">''McCrae's Battalion'', 95–99</ref> eventually led to a drop in form, as several enlisted players missed key games. Defeats to [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] and Morton allowed Celtic to usurp the ''Maroons'' and eventually claim the league title by 4 points.<ref name="Season"/>

The war claimed the lives of seven first team players: [[Duncan Currie]], John Allan, James Boyd, [[Tom Gracie]], [[Ernest Ellis]], [[James Speedie]] and [[Harry Wattie]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/page/WarMemorial/0,,10289,00.html |title=The Proudest Moment of a Proud Club |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. |work=Hearts News |access-date=12 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110921151637/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/page/WarMemorial/0%2C%2C10289%2C00.html |archive-date=21 September 2011 }}</ref> as well as former player [[David Philip]].

There are two war memorials to mark this period; The [[McCrae's Battalion Great War Memorial]] in [[Contalmaison]] and the Heart of Midlothian War Memorial in [[Haymarket, Edinburgh]] donated to the city by the club in 1922.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/heart-of-midlothian-war-memorial-moved-for-edinburgh-trams-1.909193 | title=Heart of Midlothian war memorial moved for Edinburgh trams | publisher=The Herald | work=Herald Scotland | date=4 May 2009 | access-date=9 October 2011}}</ref> The latter was placed in storage due to the [[Edinburgh Trams]] work<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/edinburgh_and_east/8008214.stm | title=War memorial moved for tram works | publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC News | date=20 April 2009 | access-date=9 October 2011}}</ref> but has now been replaced a little to the east of its previous position. A further memorial commemorating the 1914 Hearts team has been proposed by the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20110831/hearts-1914-memorial-trust_2241384_2437329 |title=Hearts 1914 Memorial Trust |publisher=Heart of Midlotian F.C. |work=Hearts News |date=31 August 2011 |access-date=9 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140514222033/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20110831/hearts-1914-memorial-trust_2241384_2437329 |archive-date=14 May 2014 }}</ref> An annual pilgrimage is held by football supporters to Contalmaison every year,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/france-preparing-to-pay-respects-to-the-fallen-heroes-from-hearts-j92bp5ndsdb | title=France preparing to pay respects to the fallen heroes from Hearts |work=The Times  | date=10 November 2005 | access-date=9 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20110704/contalmaison-2011_2241384_2385896 |title=Contalmaison 2011 |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. |work=Hearts News |date=4 July 2011 |access-date=9 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707021552/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20110704/contalmaison-2011_2241384_2385896 |archive-date=7 July 2011 }}</ref> whilst Hearts hold their memorial services at Haymarket<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/hearts-team-that-will-never-be-forgotten-fjq37qrsf9p | title=Hearts team that will never be forgotten |work=The Times  | date=8 November 2008 | access-date=9 October 2011}}</ref> or, whilst it was in storage, at [[Tynecastle Park]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sport.scotsman.com/heartofmidlothianfc/Remebrance-service-at-Tynecastle.5804238.jp | title=Remembrance service at Tynecastle | publisher=Scotsman Publications | work=Edinburgh Evening News | date=7 November 2009 | access-date=9 October 2011}}</ref>

=== Inter war years ===
Hearts collected no senior silverware in the inter war years. [[Tommy Walker (footballer, born 1915)|Tommy Walker]] joined the Hearts ground staff aged 16 in February 1932. As Scottish clubs could not then officially sign players until the age of 17, Walker played [[Scottish Junior Football Association|junior]] football for [[Linlithgow Rose F.C.|Linlithgow Rose]] until his birthday in May.<ref>Speed et al., P78</ref> A talented and elegant inside-forward, Walker quickly earned a place in the Hearts first team, helping the side to victory in the 1933 Jubilee edition of the [[Rosebery Charity Cup]], in a season in which they finished 3rd in the league. He was a regular first team player by [[1933–34 in Scottish football|1933–34]] but despite some emphatic victories, inconsistent form limited Hearts to a sixth-place finish.

Despite Walker scoring 192 league goals for Hearts and playing in sides boasting numerous internationals, such as Scots [[David McCulloch|Dave McCulloch]], [[Barney Battles Jr.|Barney Battles]], [[Andrew Anderson (footballer)|Andy Anderson]] and [[Alex Massie (footballer)|Alex Massie]], [[Wales|Welshman]] Freddie Warren and Irishman Willie Reid, Walker was destined not to win a major honour as a player at [[Tynecastle Park|Tynecastle]]. The closest Hearts came to success during his period there was a second place league finish in [[1937–38 in Scottish football|1937–38]].

=== Tommy Walker's managerial era ===
The first seeds of the Tommy Walker managerial success at Hearts were sown by [[David McLean (footballer, born 1884)|Davie McLean]]. On 9 October 1948 after a mediocre start to the [[1948–49 in Scottish football|1948–49 season]], Hearts' manager McLean gave a competitive first team debut to 20 year old<ref name="bauld">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/bauldwillie.html|title=Willie Bauld - Hearts Career - from 01 May 1948 to 03 Mar 1962|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126122724/http://londonhearts.com/scores/players/bauldwillie.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> centre forward [[Willie Bauld]]<ref name="hearts4849">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/sea/1948-49.html|title=1948-49|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> and 19 year old inside left [[Jimmy Wardhaugh]],<ref name="wardhaugh">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/wardhaughjimmy.html|title=Jimmy Wardhaugh - Hearts Career - from 21 Aug 1946 to 31 Oct 1960|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018|archive-date=26 January 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126121851/http://londonhearts.com/scores/players/wardhaughjimmy.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> and 22 year old inside right [[Alfie Conn Sr.]]<ref name="conn">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/connalfie.html|title=Alfie Conn Snr - Hearts Career - from 14 Oct 1944 to 21 Apr 1945|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018|archive-date=27 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727212223/http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/connalfie.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> had already broken through to the first team so this game marked the first time all three were deployed as a combined attacking force.<ref name="lh19481009">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/194810091.html|title=1948-10-09 Sat Hearts 6 East Fife 1|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> They became dubbed the ''Terrible Trio'' and scored over 900 Hearts goals between them<ref name=connobit>{{cite web|url=http://announce.jpress.co.uk/scotsman-publications/obituary/alfie-conn/1600260|title=Alfie Conn: Obituary|website=Announce.jpress.co.uk|access-date=27 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030081139/http://announce.jpress.co.uk/scotsman-publications/obituary/alfie-conn/1600260|archive-date=30 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> (Wardhaugh 376, Bauld 355, Conn 221).<ref name = hall>{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/pages/HallOfFame|title=Heart of Midlothian - Hall of Fame|website=Heartsfc.co.uk|access-date=27 July 2018|archive-date=4 December 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161204053409/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/pages/HallOfFame|url-status=dead}}</ref> As a unit they played 242 games together.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/alfie-conn-snr-last-surviving-member-of-hearts-terrible-trio-1513379.html|title=Alfie Conn Snr: Last surviving member of Hearts' 'Terrible Trio'|website=Independent.co.uk|access-date=27 July 2018|date=23 January 2009|archive-date=29 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201229202445/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/alfie-conn-snr-last-surviving-member-hearts-terrible-trio-1513379.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The combination of Wardhaugh's dribbling skills and non-stop running, Bauld's cerebral play and prodigious aerial ability, and Conn's energetic, tenacious style and powerful shooting complemented each other well.<ref name="style">Scott, ''The Terrible Trio'', 101–103</ref> Their first match as a forward combination ended in a 6–1 defeat of [[Scot Symon]]'s [[East Fife F.C.|East Fife]] team of the era.<ref name=hist44-54>[http://www.heartsfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/articles/20080408/1944-1954_2241543_1283899 Hearts History 1944 – 54 www.heartsfc.co.uk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170827003224/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/articles/20080408/1944-1954_2241543_1283899 |date=27 August 2017 }}</ref> This was notable as Symon's team had defeated the ''Maroons'' 4–0 three weeks earlier.<ref name = lh1948-09-18>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/194809181.html|title=1948-09-18 Sat East Fife 4 Hearts 0|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref>

A few weeks later in December 1948 Tommy Walker left during his third season at Chelsea to return to Hearts. He took the role of player-assistant to manager McLean. McLean's intention was that Walker would be a steadying influence in a developing young team. However, after a single appearance at right-half in a 1–0 home defeat by [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]], Walker retired to concentrate fully on learning the managerial ropes.<ref>Price, P10</ref> Tangible progress was made in the League Championship in 1949–50 when Hearts finished third. As Tommy Walker had become more influential, McLean was co-opted to the Board on 16 March 1950.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20110214/david-mclean-remembered_2241384_2293245|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110217131453/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20110214/david-mclean-remembered_2241384_2293245|url-status=dead|archive-date=17 February 2011|title=David McLean remembered - Hearts News - Hearts News - News - Hearts - Hearts|date=17 February 2011|website=Heartsfc.co.uk|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref><ref name = hist44-54/><ref name = hall/>

[[File:Heart of Midlothian FC League Performance.svg|300px|thumb|right|Chart of Hearts' yearly table positions in The League.]]McLean's death on 14 February 1951 saw Walker promoted to the position of manager. Walker's reign was to prove the most successful period in the club's history.<ref>Price, P12</ref> Walker was always quick to acknowledge the contribution made by McLean and his fatherly interest in the welfare and development of the players. The important foundations Walker inherited from McLean included the ''Terrible Trio'' forwards, the full back pair of [[Bobby Parker (footballer, born 1925)|Bobby Parker]] and [[Tam McKenzie]] and half backs [[Bobby Dougan]] and [[Davie Laing]]. To this established core [[John Cumming (Scottish footballer)|John Cumming]] had recently broken through to the first team in the left half position he was to dominate for many years. [[Freddie Glidden]] was already at Tynecastle but yet to first team debut as was the then schoolboy [[Dave Mackay]]. Walker made Parker the team Captain.<ref name = hist44-54/><ref name = hall/>

Mackay's key signing as a professional was under Walker in 1952 (initially part-time whilst also working as a joiner). Mackay's pairing with Cumming at wing half was to become the nucleus of the team in the middle of the pitch. Mackay was a supremely talented all round player of ferocious tackling, endless running and sublime ball control. Cumming's ''Iron Man'' nickname says much of his fearless determination. Despite his commitment he retained control of his temper and was never booked in his career. Cumming was the only player to collect medals for all seven of the trophies Hearts won under Walker. "He never had a bad game. It was either a fairly good game or an excellent game," said Mackay later of his former teammate.<ref name=cummingobit>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/dec/16/john-cumming-obituary|title=Obituary: John Cumming|first=Ewan|last=Murray|date=16 December 2008|website=The Guardian|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> Both went on to become full Scotland internationalists while playing for Hearts.<ref name = hist44-54/><ref name = hall/>

Bauld's value to the team was underlined in 1952–53, when he missed eight vital league games through ankle injuries. Hearts were struggling, but with Bauld's return to full fitness came a change in fortunes. From the bottom half of the league they surged up the table to finish in fourth place (as they had the two previous seasons). That resurgence also took them to a [[1952–53 Scottish Cup]] semi final against Rangers before 116,262 fans at Hampden Park in Glasgow. Wardhaugh scored in the 2–1 defeat. Hearts were now though on an upward trajectory.<ref name = hist44-54/><ref name = hall/>

In [[1953–54 in Scottish football|1953–54]], Wardhaugh became the [[Scottish Football League|A Division]]'s top scorer with 27 goals as Hearts appeared set to win the [[Scottish football champions|League championship]]. However, on 13 March 1954 in the Scottish Cup quarter final 3–0 defeat away to Aberdeen, Parker broke his jaw, Conn injured his back, and Wardhaugh collected a serious shin bone injury. Dougan already had a lengthy knee injury meaning 9 November 1953 was his last competitive Hearts first team game (Dougan only subsequently played for Hearts in friendlies). Walker immediately tried Glidden to cover and he took over the centre half berth from Dougan. A stuttering end to their season saw [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] overtake them.<ref name=bauldbio2>{{cite web|url=http://www.williebauldmc.co.uk/html/biograph2.html|title=Biograph2|website=Williebauldmc.co.uk|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> The young Mackay was given his first team debut on 7 November of that 1953–54 season one week before his nineteenth birthday. Naturally more left sided than right, Mackay played in the number six jersey normally associated with the absent Cumming. Mackay's next two appearances though weren't until mid March immediately after the Aberdeen cup defeat when again he played in Cumming's position. It wasn't until 17 April 1954 in a 1–0 win at Clyde that Walker first selected Mackay, Glidden and Cumming in the numbers four, five and six.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/195404171.html#team|title=1954-04-17 Sat Clyde 0 Hearts 1|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref><ref name = hist44-54/><ref name = hall/>

The team was boosted by the signing of [[Ian Crawford (footballer)|Ian Crawford]] in August 1954. Mackay was given his extended place in the team in the 1954–55 season immediately after Laing's 5 September transfer to Clyde. It was from this point that Walker settled on Mackay, Glidden and Cumming as his combination for the number four, five and six jerseys.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/195409111.html|title=1954-09-11 Sat Hearts 5 Partick Thistle 4|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> They promptly became a trophy winning force lifting the first of seven trophies over nine seasons between 1954 and 1963. In October of the [[1954–55 in Scottish football|1954–55]] season they won their first trophy since 1906, 48 years before. They beat [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]] 4–2 in the [[1954 Scottish League Cup final]]. Bauld scored three and Wardhaugh scored one in the final giving the team their break through trophy. Hearts gained some recompense against Celtic from the season before by beating them home and away in that [[1954–55 Scottish League Cup]] group stage.<ref name=hist54-64>http://www.heartsfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/articles/20080802/1954-1964_2241543_1356683 {{dead link|date=March 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name = hall/>

After signing [[Alex Young (footballer, born 1937)|Alex Young]] and [[Bobby Kirk (footballer)|Bobby Kirk]], Walker's side proceeded to win the [[1955–56 Scottish Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKKqENumvuY| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/QKKqENumvuY| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=Scottish F.A. Cup Final - Hearts Beat Celtic 3-1 (1956)|last=British Pathé|date=13 April 2014|access-date=27 July 2018|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> They thrashed Rangers 4–0 in the quarter-finals with goals from Crawford, Conn and a Bauld double.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/195603031.html|title=1956-03-03 Sat Hearts 4 Rangers 0|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> Cumming's commitment to the team was typified in that [[1956 Scottish Cup final]] before 132,840 fans. With blood streaming from a first half head injury from a clash with Celtic's [[Willie Fernie (footballer)|Willie Fernie]] he said, "Blood doesn't show on a maroon jersey". He returned to the playing field in the 3–1 win and was man of the match. That quote is now displayed above the entrance to the players tunnel at [[Tynecastle Park|Tynecastle]]. Kirk could play in either full back role<ref name="kirkobit">{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/bobby-kirk-1-788895|title=Bobby Kirk|website=Scotsman.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> and played on the right in the final at the expense of Parker. Glidden lifted the trophy as Hearts captain in what he recalled as the "sweetest" moment in his footballing career.<ref name="Memories">{{cite book | last = Robertson | first = Rob|author2=Kiddie, Paul | title = Hearts: Great Tynecastle Tales| publisher = Mainstream | year = 2005 |page=186| id = () | isbn = 1-84596-003-3}}</ref><ref name = hist54-64/><ref name = hall/>

Wardhaugh was the top tier's leading scorer again that season. The scorers in the cup final win over Celtic were Crawford with two and one from Conn. Conn ended that 1955–56 season at the peak of his powers aged 29 with a career best 29 goals from 41 games. On 2 May 1956 two weeks after the cup win Conn became the third of the terrible trio to collect a full [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]] cap. At Hampden Park he put his side ahead after 12 minutes in a 1–1 draw with [[Austria national football team|Austria]]. However the following September he suffered a broken jaw playing against Hibernian keeping him out until January.<ref name=alfieobit>[http://www.heartsfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/articles/20090107/alfie-conn_2241384_1511597 Hearts FC Alfie Conn obituary] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030220435/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/articles/20090107/alfie-conn_2241384_1511597 |date=30 October 2016 }}</ref><ref name = "telegraph obit">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/hearts/4163851/Hearts-legend-Alfie-Conn-senior-dies-aged-82.html |first=Andrew |last=Lomax |access-date=1 April 2013 |date=7 January 2009 |title=Hearts legend Alfie Conn senior dies aged 82 |work=Daily Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group}}</ref> The days of the ''Terrible Trio'' as a combined force were nearing their end.<ref name = hist54-64/><ref name = hall/>

17 year old [[Gordon Marshall (footballer, born 1939)|Gordon Marshall]] debuted in 1956 as did [[George Thomson (footballer, born 1936)|George Thomson]] in February 1957. Marshall, a future England under 23 internationalist, became a Hearts goalkeeping regular until 1963. Hearts led the Scottish League for most of the 1956–57 season. The title hinged on Rangers visit to Tynecastle on 13 April. A capacity crowd watched a tense game in which Rangers keeper, [[George Niven]], was man of the match. Hearts could not beat him and the only goal came from [[Billy Simpson (footballer, born 1929)|Billy Simpson]] of Rangers who scored on the break in 35 minutes. Rangers had games in hand which they won to overtake Hearts and lift the trophy.<ref name = hist54-64/><ref name = hall/>

Walker completed the set of having won all three major Scottish football trophies with the League Championship in [[1957–58 in Scottish football|1957–58]]. Conn suffered a serious ankle injury meaning he only played in five league games all season. Injury hit Conn left Hearts for [[Raith Rovers]] in September 1958 just two years after his 1956 zenith. He did so after 408 first team games and 221 goals.<ref name = hall/> With an injury hit Bauld only playing nine times in the league title win a new Hearts attacking trio were dominant. For a third time Wardhaugh was the League's top marksman with 28 strikes. This was one ahead of [[Jimmy Murray (footballer, born 1933)|Jimmy Murray]]'s 27 and four more than Young's 24. Mackay, now Captain, was fourth in Hearts' league scoring charts with 12. Hearts won that [[Scottish football champions|League title]] in [[1957–58 in Scottish football|1957–58]] with record-breaking points, goals scored and goal difference. Their record from 34 league games of 62 points out of a maximum possible 68 was 13 more than their nearest rival. They scored 132 goals (still the Scottish top tier record) with only 29 against for a record net difference of +103. This was Hearts' greatest ever league side. Murray and Mackay both played for Scotland at the [[1958 FIFA World Cup]] where Murray scored in a 1–1 draw against Yugoslavia. Parker was a fringe player in the league winning season, his last season as a Hearts player. He moved to the club coaching staff before joining the Board of Directors where he also had a spell as chairman.<ref name = hist54-64/><ref name = hall/>

In the [[1958–59 Scottish League Cup]] group stage Hearts eliminated Rangers. That October [[1958 Scottish League Cup final]] was won with a heavy 5–1 defeat of [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]]. Bauld and Murray each scored two and [[Johnny Hamilton (footballer, born 1935)|Johnny Hamilton]] netted one. Hearts defended their league title by being leaders in mid December. However a side visiting Ibrox missing injured Mackay were beaten 5–0 with all goals in the first 35 minutes. This put Rangers into top position in the table on goal average.<ref name="dec58">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/195812131.html|title=1958-12-13 Sat Rangers 5 Hearts 0|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> This precipitated a run of only two wins from the next seven games without injured Mackay. Hearts beat Queen of the South in a 2–1 home league win on 7 March 1959.<ref name="lh19590307">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/195903071.html|title=1959-03-07 Sat Hearts 2 Queen of the South 1|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> After that QoS game Rangers with six games to play were firm favourites for the title, six points ahead of second placed Hearts.<ref name="lh19590307"/> Even if Hearts were to win their remaining seven games including a game in hand and beating Rangers in their visit Tynecastle in Rangers' penultimate game of the season,<ref name="lh5859">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/sea/1958-59.html|title=1958-59|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> Rangers would still have to drop two points elsewhere and give away a superior goal average.<ref name="lh19590307"/> The league game against QoS was Mackay's last for Hearts after they accepted a bid of £32,000 from [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] for their captain who was fit at this time despite having had lengthy spells out injured in the previous 12 months. Bobby Rankin was brought in to bolster the squad and scored twice in each of his first two games (both victories). On the penultimate Saturday of the league campaign goals by Cumming and Rankin at home to Rangers<ref name="lhhttp://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/195904111.html">{{cite web|url=https://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/195904111.html|title=1959-04-11 Sat Hearts 2 Rangers 0|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref> meant Hearts were four points behind with a game in hand. In midweek they next won 4–2 at Aberdeen with Rankin scoring a hat-trick.<ref name="hl19590415">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/195904151.html|title=1959-04-15 Wed Aberdeen 2 Hearts 4|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> The last day of the season began with Rangers two points clear with an identical goal average to Hearts. Rangers thus needed a point to clinch the title but lost 2–1 at home to Aberdeen. Despite missing Bobby Kirk at right back with a knee injury, Rankin's ninth goal from his fifth Hearts game had Hearts 1–0 up at half time at [[Celtic Park]]. Any victory would have given Hearts the title. Then Celtic's [[Bertie Auld]] playing at left wing equalised before [[Eric Smith (Scottish footballer)|Eric Smith]] scored Celtic's winning second goal to seal the title for their cross city rivals<ref name="lh19590418">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/195904181.html|title=1959-04-18 Sat Celtic 2 Hearts 1|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> leaving those at Tynecastle to wonder what would have happened if Mackay hadn't been sold when he was.<ref name = hist54-64/><ref name = hall/>

Mackay's name as a club mainstay at half back was eventually taken over by [[Billy Higgins (Scottish footballer)|Billy Higgins]]. That League Cup win was also Glidden's last trophy as a recurring back injury that season numbered his playing days at Tynecastle. 36 year old MacKenzie left in 1959 as did Wardhaugh. He scored 206 goals in 304 league games and a total of 376 goals in 518 games for Hearts.<ref name = hall/><ref name = hist54-64/>

After collecting three Scottish championships and 19 full Scotland caps at Hibernian, [[Gordon Smith (footballer, born 1924)|Gordon Smith]] had a recurring ankle injury leading to his [[free transfer (association football)|free transfer]] in 1959. Smith believed that an operation could cure the injury<ref name="montford">{{cite news |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/archive/1964/0222/Pg004.html |title=Newspaper Archive |page=4  |date=22 February 1964 |newspaper=[[The Irish Times]] |issn=0791-5144 |location=Dublin |language=en-ie |access-date=18 April 2022}}</ref> and paid for an operation on the offending ankle himself. He then signed for Hearts, his boyhood heroes.<ref name = "montford"/> He enjoyed immediate success at [[Tynecastle Park|Tynecastle]], winning both the [[1959 Scottish League Cup final]] and league title in his [[1959–60 in Scottish football|first season]] with the club.<ref name = "montford"/> Hamilton scored for Hearts in that second successive League Cup Final and Young hit the winner. [[Third Lanark]] were beaten 2–1. 1960 ended with Walker being awarded the [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]] for services to football.<ref name="walkerobit">{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12626976.Tommy_Walker_dies_at_77/|title=Tommy Walker dies at 77|website=HeraldScotland|date=12 January 1993 |access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref><ref name = hist54-64/><ref name = hall/>

The 1960s saw Hearts fortunes fluctuate as Walker attempted to adapt to football's tactical changes by implementing a 4–2–4 formation. Young and Thomson departed for [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] in November 1960. At Everton Young was known as ''The Golden Vision'' and became another from the Walker production line of full Scotland internationalists. Smith had an injury hit season leading to his joining Dundee (who became the third club with whom he won the Scottish title). Hearts signed further future full internationalists in [[Willie Wallace]] and [[David Holt (footballer, born 1936)|David Holt]]. Hearts lost the [[1961 Scottish League Cup final]] after a replay. Cumming scored a deserved equalising penalty for Hearts in the first game 1–1 draw they largely dominated against the Scot Symon managed Rangers. [[Norrie Davidson]] scored a then equalising Hearts goal when they lost in the 3–1 replay defeat.<ref name = hist54-64/><ref name = hall/>

Bauld left Hearts in 1962 with 355 goals from 510 first team appearances.<ref name = hall/> Another future internationalist, [[Willie Hamilton (footballer, born 1938)|Willie Hamilton]], joined for the run culminating in the [[1962 Scottish League Cup final]] win. Hearts won the trophy for a fourth time with a 1–0 final win over [[Willie Waddell]]'s fine Kilmarnock side of that era. Davidson's goal this time proved decisive. Like in the 1954–55 win Hearts eliminated Celtic in that [[1962–63 Scottish League Cup]] group stage.<ref name = hist54-64/><ref name = hall/>

In [[1964–65 Scottish Division One|1964–65]] Hearts fought out a championship title race with Waddell's Kilmarnock. In the era of two points for a win Hearts were three points clear with two games remaining. Hearts drew with Dundee United meaning the last game of the season with the two title challengers playing each other at Tynecastle would be a league decider. Kilmarnock needed to win by a two-goal margin to take the title. Hearts entered the game as favourites with both a statistical and home advantage. They also had a solid pedigree of trophy winning under Walker. Waddell's Kilmarnock in contrast had been nearly men. Four times in the previous five seasons they had finished league runners-up including Hearts’ triumph in 1960. Killie had also lost three domestic cup finals during the same period including the 1962 League Cup Final defeat to Hearts. Hearts had won five of the six senior cup finals they played in under Walker. Even the final they had lost was in a replay after drawing the first game. Hearts' [[Roald Jensen]] hit the post after six minutes. Kilmarnock then scored twice through [[Davie Sneddon]] and Brian McIlroy after 27 and 29 minutes. [[Alan Gordon (Scottish footballer)|Alan Gordon]] had an excellent chance to clinch the title for Hearts in second half injury time but was denied by a [[Bobby Ferguson (footballer, born 1945)|Bobby Ferguson]] diving save pushing the ball past the post. The 2–0 defeat meant Hearts lost the title by an average of 0.042 goals.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://footballpink.net/2013/09/22/killies-final-day-victory-breaks-hearts/|title=Killie's final day victory breaks Hearts|date=22 September 2013|website=Footballpink.net|access-date=27 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030142924/https://footballpink.net/2013/09/22/killies-final-day-victory-breaks-hearts/|archive-date=30 October 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/196504241.html|title=1965-04-24 Sat Hearts 0 Kilmarnock 2|website=Londonhearts.com|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-93_7Gz5FTQ| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/-93_7Gz5FTQ| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=Hearts 0 Killie 2 (24/04/1965)|date=10 July 2008|access-date=27 July 2018|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Subsequently, Hearts were instrumental in pushing through a change to use goal difference to separate teams level on points. Ironically this rule change later denied Hearts the title in 1985–86.<ref name=hist64-74>[http://www.heartsfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/articles/20061108/1964-1974_2241543_1458271 Hearts History 1964 – 74 www.heartsfc.co.uk] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521154848/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk.p.preprod.performgroup.com/articles/20061108/1964-1974_2241543_1458271 |date=21 May 2016 }}</ref><ref name = hall/>

Following a slump in results, Walker resigned in September 1966. Under his management Hearts had won 7 senior trophies and been runners up in five others. Cumming left the playing staff a year later and joined the coaching team.<ref name = hist64-74/><ref name = hall/>

=== Later 20th century ===
The highlight of the late 60s was the run to the 1968 Scottish Cup Final when they lost 3–1 to [[George Farm]]'s [[Dunfermline Athletic]]. The players of greatest note in the late sixties were [[Jim Cruickshank]], [[Alan Anderson (footballer)|Alan Anderson]] and [[Donald Ford]] with [[Drew Busby]] joining the three in the 1970s. The high point of the 1970s was another run to the Scottish Cup Final. In 1975–76 they again lost 3–1 in the final this time to Rangers. After the advent of the ten team Premier Division in 1975, Hearts were subsequently relegated for the first time in [[1976–77 in Scottish football|1977]]. This began a sequence of [[yo-yo club|yo-yoing]] between the Premier League and First Division six times in seven seasons.

On 25 May 1981, 34-year-old [[Wallace Mercer]] became chairman after buying a controlling interest in Hearts for £265,000.<ref name =mercer>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12442782.Wallace_Mercer_Businessman_and_former_chairman_of_Hearts_FC/|title=Wallace Mercer Businessman and former chairman of Hearts FC|website=HeraldScotland|date=18 January 2006 |access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref> Hearts had just been relegated from the top flight for the third time in five seasons. The following December (1981), Mercer promoted [[Alex MacDonald (footballer, born 1948)|Alex MacDonald]] to be Player-Manager. At the end of the 1982–83 season, Hearts were promoted back to the top flight. This marked an upturn in their fortunes to rejoin the more competitive clubs in Scotland's top flight. The [[1985–86 in Scottish football|1985–86 season]] was their best since 1965. The league campaign started with the loss of five of the first eight games. From there the club went on a 27-game unbeaten league run, reaching the top of the league on 21 December after a 1–0 win at St Mirren.

Hearts needed a draw from the last game of the season away to [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] on 3 May 1986 to win the Scottish league title. Before that final game they were two points ahead of Celtic and with a superior goal difference of four goals. However, this strong statistical position was undermined in the run up to the game when several players in the Hearts squad were hit by a viral infection. [[Craig Levein]] failed to recover to make the game in Dundee.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/hearts/5363880/What-a-heartbreaker-How-Hearts-lost-the-Scottish-title-to-Celtic-in-1986.html|title=How Hearts lost the Scottish title to Celtic in 1986|first=Roddy|last=Forsyth|date=22 May 2009|access-date=27 July 2018|website=Telegraph.co.uk}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ZFezYotlVk#t=380.218895| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/6ZFezYotlVk| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=That was The Team That Was Part2|last=Subtitledvideos4|date=20 December 2010|access-date=27 July 2018|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Celtic were 4–0 up away at St Mirren at half time in their final fixture. Thus, at half time the players knew that they would have to deliver a result at [[Dens Park]]. Substitute [[Albert Kidd]] forced Hearts to concede a corner kick with seven minutes remaining. The in-swinging corner was touched on and fell to Kidd who put Dundee ahead. This was the first goal Hearts had conceded from a corner all season. Hearts now needed an equaliser to win the title. However, Kidd went on a run with the ball from the halfway line down the right wing beating two Hearts players. After then playing a one-two with a teammate on the edge of the Hearts box he finished to score a second with four minutes left. Dundee won 2–0.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCjEsN4E85s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211030/UCjEsN4E85s| archive-date=30 October 2021|title=Dundee V Hearts 1986 Albert Kidd|last=DeeLicious|date=19 March 2007|access-date=27 July 2018|publisher=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This combined with Celtic winning 5–0 against St Mirren meant the top two clubs finished the season on the same number of points. Hearts lost out to Celtic by a goal difference of three. Had goal difference been the rule in 1965 Hearts would have been champions; had goal average still applied in 1986, they would have won the league. Hearts lobbying after the league loss in 1965 cost them the title in 1986.

Hearts had been chasing a League and Scottish Cup double. After eliminating Rangers and [[Jim McLean]]'s Dundee United they faced [[Alex Ferguson]]'s Aberdeen in the final; Aberdeen [[1986 Scottish Cup final|won 3–0]] meaning Hearts finished runners-up as they had in the league.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/that-1980s-sports-blog/2015/may/01/albert-kidd-day-hearts-dundee-hibs-celtic-1986|title=How Albert Kidd became a Hibs and Celtic legend without playing for them|first=Steven|last=Pye|date=1 May 2015|website=The Guardian|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref>

Hearts finished league runners-up again in [[1987–88 Scottish Premier Division|1988]] and [[1991–92 Scottish Premier Division|1992]]. The club reached the quarter-finals of the [[1988–89 UEFA Cup]] losing out to [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] 2–1 on aggregate. After MacDonald's summer 1990 departure the club struggled to settle on a manager. Within a two-year period, [[Joe Jordan]], [[Sandy Clark]] and [[Tommy McLean]] were all sacked. From April 1989 to April 1994, Hearts went on a run of 22 games in a row without defeat against arch-rivals Hibernian in the [[Edinburgh derby]].

In 1994 Mercer sold his shares in Hearts to Chris Robinson and Leslie Deans. Under Mercer, Hearts finished second in the Scottish top tier three times and once in the Scottish Cup, but his time at the helm concluded without senior silverware. His personal influence at the club is perhaps best remembered with [[History of Hibernian F.C.#Takeover bid by Hearts (1989–1991)|an attempted merger with Hibs in 1990]]. Seen by Hibs fans as an attempted take over to liquidate their club, Mercer's attempts were met with bitterness and acrimony before he backed away.<ref name =mercer/><ref name=saviours>[https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/creative-accountancy-how-jim-mclean-and-others-were-unlikely-saviours-hibs-wallace-mercer-circled-2873914 'Creative accountancy': How Jim McLean - and others - were unlikely saviours of Hibs as Wallace Mercer circled], ''[[The Scotsman]]'', 4 June 2020</ref>

In [[1997–98 in Scottish football|1998]], Hearts beat Rangers [[1998 Scottish Cup final|2–1]] to lift the Scottish Cup under the management of ex Hearts player, [[Jim Jefferies (footballer)|Jim Jefferies]]. [[Colin Cameron (footballer)|Colin Cameron]] scored a first-minute penalty and [[Stéphane Adam]] added after half time. This was Hearts' first senior trophy win since the [[1962–63 Scottish League Cup]] won in the Tommy Walker era.

=== Into the 21st century ===
Hearts finished third in 2003 and 2004, and reached the inaugural group stages of the [[UEFA Cup]] in 2004–05, but finished bottom of their group, despite [[Robbie Neilson]]'s goal giving a 2–1 victory over [[FC Basel]]. During the 2004–05 season, they finished fifth in the league.

In 2004, then club CEO Chris Robinson announced plans to sell Tynecastle, which he claimed was "not fit for purpose", and instead have Hearts rent [[Murrayfield Stadium|Murrayfield]] from the [[Scottish Rugby Union]].<ref>[http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=1455932004 Tynecastle architect says £100,000 to fix stadium], ''[[The Scotsman]]''. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051110132123/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=1455932004 |date=10 November 2005 }}</ref> This move was deemed necessary due to the club's increasingly large debt. The plan was very unpopular with supporters, and a campaign, entitled ''Save Our Hearts'', was set up to try to block the move.<ref>[http://quicksitebuilder.cnet.com/bonnjoy/thefederationofheartssupportersclubs/id11.html Save our Hearts] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060216234818/http://quicksitebuilder.cnet.com/bonnjoy/thefederationofheartssupportersclubs/id11.html |date=16 February 2006 }}</ref> As Robinson and his supporters had a slight majority of the club's shares, a preliminary deal to sell the stadium was struck with the Cala property development company for just over £20&nbsp;million.<ref>[http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=1073472004 Tynecastle sale to go through, but at what price?] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022073805/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=1073472004 |date=22 October 2007 }}, ''The Scotsman''.</ref>

=== The Romanov era ===
{{Main|Vladimir Romanov's ownership of Heart of Midlothian F.C.}}
In August 2004 in the midst of Hearts' financial difficulties [[Russians|Russian]]-[[Lithuanians|Lithuanian]] multi-millionaire [[Vladimir Romanov]] entered into talks to take over Hearts<ref name="talks">{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/3614112.stm | title=Hearts in takeover talks | publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Sport | date=31 August 2004 | access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> in what was dubbed the "Romanov Revolution". Romanov had already made failed attempts<ref name = "other clubs"/> to purchase [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]],<ref name = "other clubs">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4396338.stm Who is Vladimir Romanov?], [[BBC Sport]], 1 November 2005.<!--accessed 1 July 2008.--></ref> [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]]<ref name = "other clubs"/> and [[Dunfermline Athletic F.C.|Dunfermline]].<ref name = "other clubs"/> Romanov offered the prospect of the club staying at a redeveloped Tynecastle,<ref name = "talks"/><ref>Campbell, Alan. [https://web.archive.org/web/20151018023709/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4156/is_20041003/ai_n12592176 Romanov confirms he aims to stay at Tynecastle], ''[[Sunday Herald]]'', 3 October 2004.<!--accessed 1 July 2008.--></ref> which was very attractive to Hearts supporters.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4210675.stm Consortium aims to gazump Romanov], [[BBC Sport]], 26 January 2005.<!--accessed 1 July 2008.--></ref> At the end of September 2004 Chris Robinson agreed to sell his 19.6% stake to Romanov.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/3696726.stm Robinson sells Hearts stake], [[BBC Sport]], 30 September 2004.<!--accessed 1 July 2008.--></ref> Romanov called an [[extraordinary general meeting]] in January 2005 so that the club could pass a motion to exercise the escape clause in the deal with Cala Homes.<ref>[http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=1455942004 Romanov calls off sale of Tynecastle to Cala] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071022074433/http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/sport.cfm?id=1455942004 |date=22 October 2007 }}, ''The Scotsman''.</ref><ref name = "edge closer">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4152305.stm Hearts edge closer to home stay], [[BBC Sport]], 7 January 2005.<!--accessed 1 July 2008.--></ref> The backing of Leslie Deans<ref name = "edge closer"/> and the McGrail brothers<ref name = "edge closer"/> meant that the motion was passed with over 70% support.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4161605.stm Hearts warn ground could still go], [[BBC Sport]], 11 January 2005.<!--accessed 1 July 2008.--></ref> The sale of Robinson's shares was completed on 2 February 2005<ref name = "takes control">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4228629.stm Romanov takes control at Hearts], [[BBC Sport]], 2 February 2005.<!--accessed 1 July 2008.--></ref> after Romanov made financial guarantees that the club could continue to trade without selling Tynecastle.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4218645.stm Hearts give takeover green light], [[BBC Sport]], 29 January 2005.<!--accessed 1 July 2008.--></ref> This sale increased Romanov's stake to 29.9%,<ref name = "takes control"/> giving him effective control of the club.<ref name = "takes control"/> Romanov's takeover was welcomed by a fans' representative.<ref name = "takes control"/> Romanov increased his shareholding in Hearts to 55.5% on 21 October 2005,<ref name = "ownership"/> and offered to buy the rest of the shares.<ref name = "ownership">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4363098.stm Romanov aims for Hearts ownership], [[BBC Sport]], 21 October 2005.<!--accessed 2 July 2008.--></ref> Chairman [[George Foulkes, Baron Foulkes of Cumnock|George Foulkes]] sold his shares to Romanov<ref name = "ownership"/> and encouraged others to do likewise.<ref name = "ownership"/> Romanov eventually increased his majority share in Hearts to 82%.<ref>{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20080708235528/http://www.eufootball.biz/Clubs/281206-Romanov-ownership-could-cost-him-millions.html Romanov's extra ownership could cost him millions]}}, euFootball.biz, 28 December 2006.<!--accessed 2 July 2008.--></ref>

Romanov's management of the club's debt became a cause for concern.<ref name = "concern">Gibbons, Glenn. [http://sport.scotsman.com/spl/Gretna-parallels-should-strike-most.3936678.jp Gretna parallels should strike most concern among followers of Hearts], ''[[The Scotsman]]'', 2 April 2008<!--accessed 3 July 2008--></ref> During his takeover Romanov pledged to eradicate the club's debt. Soon after the takeover was completed, the debt was transferred from [[HBOS]] and [[STV Group|SMG]] to the financial institutions controlled by Romanov, [[Ūkio bankas]] and UBIG.  At the end of July 2007 the club were [[Pound sterling|£]]36[[million|M]] in debt.<ref name = "concern"/> On 7 July 2008, Hearts issued a statement that stated the club would issue [[Debt restructuring|debt for equity]] to reduce the debt by £12M.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/7493075.stm Hearts plan to cut debt by £12m], [[BBC Sport]], 7 July 2008<!--accessed 7 July 2008--></ref> A further issue was completed in 2010.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/9123930.stm | title=Hearts to reduce debt by £10m by selling shares to bank | publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Sport | date=25 October 2010 | access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> Since the takeover Hearts had failed to pay players wages on time on several occasions,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2008/nov/28/hearts-scottishpremierleague | title=Hearts blame 'blip' for failure to pay wages |work=The Guardian  | date=28 November 2008 | access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://au.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/-/9891718/hearts-assistant-boss-relaxed-as-wages-fail-to-be-paid/ | title=Hearts assistant boss relaxed as wages fail to be paid | publisher=Yahoo | date=22 July 2011 | access-date=7 October 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120405022956/http://au.sports.yahoo.com/football/news/article/-/9891718/hearts-assistant-boss-relaxed-as-wages-fail-to-be-paid/ | archive-date=5 April 2012 | df=dmy-all }}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/15361299 | title=Hearts suffer new delay to wages | publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Sport | date=18 October 2011 | access-date=18 October 2011}}</ref> and were threatened with administration twice<ref>{{cite web | url=http://thescotsman.scotsman.com/spl/Club-adamant-HMRC-debt-has.6820069.jp | title=Club adamant HMRC debt has been paid |work=The Scotsman  | date=17 August 2011 | access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> due to failure to pay an outstanding tax bills with the bill finally being settled in August 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hearts/2011/08/16/hearts-pay-200-000-to-taxman-and-avoid-administration-threat-86908-23349777/ |title=Hearts pay £200,000 to taxman and avoid administration threat |publisher=Daily Record |date=16 August 2011 |access-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110913112638/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hearts/2011/08/16/hearts-pay-200-000-to-taxman-and-avoid-administration-threat-86908-23349777/ |archive-date=13 September 2011 }}</ref> Results released for the financial year ending 31 July 2010 showed that Hearts had made a small profit for the first time since 1999, although they were still heavily in debt.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://heritage.scotsman.com/heartofmidlothianfc/Hearts-make-a-profit-for.6766779.jp | title=Hearts make a profit for first time since 1999 |work=The Scotsman | date=12 May 2011 | access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref>

Hearts' first manager of the Romanov era was [[George Burley]], who was appointed<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=313410.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121203194454/http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=313410.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 December 2012 | title=Burley takes helm at Hearts |publisher=UEFA  | date=30 June 2005 | access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> during close season by new chief executive [[Phil Anderton]], who replaced Chris Robinson as chief executive.<ref name = "Anderton hired">Ferguson, David and Halliday, Stephen. [http://news.scotsman.com/heartofmidlothianfc/Hearts-turn-to-Anderton.2604108.jp Hearts turn to Anderton], ''[[The Scotsman]]'', 18 February 2005.<!--accessed 2 July 2008.--></ref> With their new manager and signings, Hearts got off to a tremendous start in the [[2005–06 in Scottish football|2005–06 season]]. The team won their first eight league matches,<ref name = "title talk">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4278320.stm Happy Burley avoids talk of title], [[BBC Sport]], 24 September 2005.<!--accessed 2 July 2008.--></ref> equalling a club record set in [[1914–15 in Scottish football|1914]].<ref name = "title talk"/> Romanov shocked Scottish football<ref name = "Burley exit"/> by [[Termination of employment|sacking]] George Burley on the following day while Hearts were sitting top of the [[Scottish Premier League|SPL]] table;<ref name = "Burley exit"/> Hearts ultimately finished second.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scottishfootballarchive.co.uk/league-tables/2005-06-premier-league |title=2005–06 Premier League |publisher=Scottish Football Archive |access-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029193719/http://scottishfootballarchive.co.uk/league-tables/2005-06-premier-league |archive-date=29 October 2013 }}</ref> Hearts fans were led to expect a "top class manager"<ref name = "Burley exit">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4367202.stm Burley in shock exit from Hearts], [[BBC Sport]], 22 October 2005.<!--accessed 2 July 2008.--></ref> would replace Burley. [[Kevin Keegan]],<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4378328.stm Hearts keen to talk with Keegan], [[BBC Sport]], 30 October 2005.<!--accessed 2 July 2008.--></ref> [[Bobby Robson]],<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4368502.stm Hearts hope for talks with Robson], [[BBC Sport]], 24 October 2005.<!--accessed 2 July 2008.--></ref> [[Claudio Ranieri]]<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4392426.stm Ranieri explains Hearts decision], [[BBC Sport]], 31 October 2005.<!--accessed 2 July 2008.--></ref> and [[Ottmar Hitzfeld]]<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4406072.stm Hitzfeld says he rejected Hearts], [[BBC Sport]], 4 November 2005.<!--accessed 2 July 2008.--></ref> were all linked with the vacancy. Anderton, who had been making the approaches for these coaches, was sacked by Romanov on 31 October 2005.<ref name = "duo depart">[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4394338.stm Hearts in turmoil as duo depart], [[BBC Sport]], 31 October 2005.<!--accessed 2 July 2008.--></ref> Foulkes, who had helped to bring Romanov to the club in the first place,<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4395230.stm Foulkes brands Romanov a dictator], [[BBC Sport]], 1 November 2005.<!--accessed 2 July 2008.--></ref> resigned in protest at Anderton's dismissal.<ref name = "duo depart"/> Romanov replaced both of them with his son, [[Vladimir Romanov's ownership of Heart of Midlothian F.C.#Roman Romanov|Roman Romanov]].<ref name = "duo depart"/> This proved to be a feature of his time at the club, going through nine<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sport.scotsman.com/vladimirromanov/You39re-fired-Vladimir39s-victims.6811382.jp | title=You're fired... Vladimir's victims |work=The Scotsman  | publisher=Scotsman Publications | date=2 August 2011 | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref> permanent managers in seven years.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/aug/01/jim-jefferies-sacked-hearts-romanov | title=Manager and No2 removed by owner Vladimir Romanov |work=The Guardian  | date=1 August 2011 | access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> The next managerial change after those came on 1 August 2011 when Jim Jefferies was sacked<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/hearts/8675379/Jim-Jefferies-sacked-as-Hearts-manager.html | title=Jim Jefferies sacked as Hearts manager |work=The Daily Telegraph  | date=1 August 2011 | access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> during his second spell at the club and replaced by former [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|Sporting CP]] boss [[Paulo Sérgio (footballer, born 1968)|Paulo Sérgio]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/14366361|title=Jefferies rejects Hearts role as Sergio takes over|publisher=[[BBC Sport]]|date=2 August 2011|access-date=2 August 2011}}</ref>

Romanov stated that his ultimate aim was for Hearts to win the [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/hearts-chief-sacked-for-failing-to-buy-into-romanov-s-fantasy-land-323726.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220509/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/scottish/hearts-chief-sacked-for-failing-to-buy-into-romanov-s-fantasy-land-323726.html |archive-date=9 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Hearts chief sacked for failing to buy into Romanov's fantasy land |last=Harris |first=Nick |work=The Independent |date=1 November 2005 |access-date=21 April 2022}}</ref> Hearts competed in the Champions League during season 2006–07 but progressed only as far the second qualifying round before dropping down to the [[2006–07 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/clubs/50120--hearts/ | title=2006/07 Champions League Hearts | publisher=Uefa Cup | access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> Since then Hearts have been unable to split the [[Old Firm]] for a second time<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sport.scotsman.com/heartofmidlothianfc/Tynecastle-side-split-Old-Firm.2773240.jp | title=Tynecastle side split Old Firm but fail to win over neutrals |work=The Scotsman  | access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> to earn a Champions League place. Hearts target became finishing third or above in the SPL.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hearts/2011/02/20/jim-jefferies-hearts-will-have-a-go-at-splitting-old-firm-if-we-secure-third-spot-soon-86908-22936906/ |title=Jim Jefferies: Hearts will have a go at splitting Old Firm if we secure third spot soon |work=Daily Record |location=Glasgow |date=20 February 2011 |access-date=7 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110225153821/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hearts/2011/02/20/jim-jefferies-hearts-will-have-a-go-at-splitting-old-firm-if-we-secure-third-spot-soon-86908-22936906/ |archive-date=25 February 2011 }}</ref>

Romanov also owned the Lithuanian club [[FBK Kaunas]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.itv.com/sport/football/europaleague/news/hearts-the-vladimir-romanov-story-43778/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130126152935/http://www.itv.com/sport/football/europaleague/news/hearts-the-vladimir-romanov-story-43778/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=26 January 2013 | title=Vladimir Romanov: The clown prince of Scottish football | publisher=ITV Sport | access-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> and Belarusian club [[FC Partizan Minsk]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/02/27/hearts-owner-vladimir-romanov-buys-17m-jet-86908-22953742/ |title=Hearts owner Vladimir Romanov buys £17m jet |work=[[Sunday Mail (Scotland)|Sunday Mail]] |publisher=[[Trinity Mirror]] |date=27 February 2011 |first=Mark |last=Howarth |access-date=8 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110503230547/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/2011/02/27/hearts-owner-vladimir-romanov-buys-17m-jet-86908-22953742/ |archive-date=3 May 2011 }}</ref> Several players were loaned by [[Vladimir Romanov's ownership of Heart of Midlothian F.C.#Loan moves from FBK Kaunas|FBK Kaunas to Hearts]] when Romanov acquired control of the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/how-many-players-does-it-take-to-change-a-football-club-1.833637 |work=Sunday Herald |publisher=Newsquest|date=3 February 2007|title=How many players does it take to change a football club? |first=Stewart |last=Fisher |access-date=8 August 2011}}</ref>

The club began experiencing severe financial problems in November 2011, which meant they were unable to pay the players' wages,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/hearts/8958981/Hearts-players-finally-paid-November-salaries-but-still-due-to-make-complaint-to-SPL.html|title=Hearts players finally paid November salaries but still due to make complaint to SPL|website=Telegraph.co.uk|date=15 December 2011 |access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref> and the club was put up for sale.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11790/7313172/Romanov-puts-Hearts-up-for-sale | title=Romanov puts Hearts up for sale | publisher=Sky Sports | date=17 November 2011 | access-date=20 December 2011}}</ref> The squad's October salaries were late and the November wages were paid twenty-nine days late, just one day before their December salaries were due.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2011/12/15/hearts-claim-they-ve-paid-players-as-union-prepares-complaint-to-spl-86908-23637974/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120723204834/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2011/12/15/hearts-claim-they-ve-paid-players-as-union-prepares-complaint-to-spl-86908-23637974/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 July 2012 |title=Hearts stars finally get November pay but will complain to SPL if December wages don't arrive |work=Daily Record |location=Glasgow |date=15 December 2011 |access-date=20 December 2011 }}</ref> The December pay failed to arrive on time,<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.scotsman.com/the-scotsman/sport-comment/alan-patullo/hearts_players_pay_delayed_november_wages_are_paid_but_hearts_players_still_ready_to_act_1_2012126 | title=Hearts players' pay: Delayed November wages are paid but Hearts players still ready to act |work=The Scotsman | location=Edinburgh |date=16 December 2011 | access-date=20 December 2011}}</ref> and a complaint was lodged with the [[Scottish Premier League]] by the players' union.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/hearts/288435-hearts-squad-lodge-official-spl-complaint-over-unpaid-wages/ | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715103559/http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/hearts/288435-hearts-squad-lodge-official-spl-complaint-over-unpaid-wages/ | url-status=dead | archive-date=15 July 2012 | title=Hearts squad lodge official SPL complaint over unpaid wages | publisher=Scottish Television | date=20 December 2011 | access-date=20 December 2011 }}</ref> During this period the club advised fringe players they were free to leave the club. On 4 January 2012 the SPL ordered Hearts to pay all outstanding wages by 11 January 2012 and insisted that January's wages had to be paid on time on 16 January.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s2&newsid=10942&back=home | title=SPL Statement ~ Heart of Midlothian FC | publisher=Scottish Premier League | date=4 January 2012 | access-date=17 January 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013222206/http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s2&newsid=10942&back=home | archive-date=13 October 2012 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Hearts paid all outstanding wages that day following the sale of [[Eggert Jónsson]] to [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolves]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/hearts/8992876/Hearts-pay-overdue-December-wages-thanks-to-Eggert-Jonsson-sale-to-Wolves.html | title=Hearts pay overdue December wages thanks to Eggert Jonsson sale to Wolves | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | date=4 January 2012 | access-date=17 January 2012}}</ref> On 17 January, the day after Hearts' wages were due to be paid, it was revealed all players had been paid.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/hearts/293954-hearts-captain-says-players-have-been-paid/ | title=Hearts captain says players have been paid Marius Zaliukas has told STV | publisher=Scottish Television | date=17 January 2012 | access-date=17 January 2012 | archive-date=20 January 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120012825/http://sport.stv.tv/football/scottish-premier/hearts/293954-hearts-captain-says-players-have-been-paid/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> Despite this, the SPL issued a statement saying Hearts had failed to pay all players on 16 January and an emergency board meeting had been called;<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s2&newsid=10977 | title=SPL Statement 2~ Heart of Midlothian FC | publisher=Scottish Premier League | date=17 January 2012 | access-date=17 January 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013222400/http://www.scotprem.com/content/default.asp?page=s2&newsid=10977 | archive-date=13 October 2012 | url-status=dead | df=dmy-all }}</ref> Hearts refuted this, saying payment of the remuneration had been made to all players.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20120117/club-refutes-spl-claim_2241384_2580130 |title=Club refutes SPL claim |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. |date=17 January 2012 |access-date=17 January 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119234641/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20120117/club-refutes-spl-claim_2241384_2580130 |archive-date=19 January 2012 }}</ref>
On 7 November 2012, Hearts were issued with a winding-up order by the Court of Session in Edinburgh after failing to pay a tax bill on time.<ref>{{cite news |last=McLauchlin |first=Brian |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/20241385 |work=BBC Sport |title=Hearts appeal to fans as club fears for future after tax bill |date=7 November 2012 |access-date=10 February 2015}}</ref>

In early June 2013, during the close season, a Hearts media statement stated that they would need to raise £500,000 in capital to keep the club up and running during the break between seasons. With no match day income coming in and a lack of finance from owner Romanov, the club were left in a position where they had to put their whole squad up for sale.

On 17 June 2013, Heart of Midlothian began the process of entering into [[administration (law)|administration]] with debts of £25&nbsp;million, owing recently bankrupt [[Ūkio bankas]] £15&nbsp;million.<ref>{{cite news |title=Hearts: SPL side to enter administration |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22944291 |access-date=29 August 2013}}</ref>

On 18 June 2013, a Scandinavian consortium offered to pay the club £500,000 immediately in return for a share of any future transfer income from up to 12 players; this was rejected by Hearts. The process of entering administration began on 19 June 2013 when the club's parent company, Ukio Bankas Investment Group (UBIG), filed papers at the Court of Session on Edinburgh for accountancy firm [[BDO Global|BDO]] to be named as administrators.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22963110 Hearts rejected investment offer before administration application], BBC Sport, 18 June 2013</ref><ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/22953448 Hearts placed into administration and deducted 15 points], BBC Sport, 19 June 2013</ref>

===Administration===
On 17 June 2013 Hearts announced that they had lodged court papers stating their intention to enter administration, and on 19 June 2013 the administrators BDO were appointed to run the club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/bdo-appointed-to-run-hearts-in-administration.1371649500|title=BDO appointed to run Hearts in administration|work=Herald Scotland|date=19 June 2013 }}</ref> This meant that the club was unable to register players over 21 until February 2014 at the earliest. As long as they were still in administration they would not be able to bring in players of any age.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/23536242|title=Hearts: Registration ban to run until February 2014|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=August 2013}}</ref>

As well as the signing embargo, Hearts were to be deducted a third of the previous season's points tally which meant the club would start the 2013–2014 season with −15 points. During this period the BDO administrator Trevor Birch pleaded with Hearts fans to purchase season tickets and stated that they needed to sell at least another 3000 season tickets to raise another £800,000 to keep the club running and avoiding liquidation. The fans met this number and took total season ticket sales beyond the 10,000 mark, giving the club more survival time.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20130712/season-ticket-update_2241384_3232942|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130826171529/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20130712/season-ticket-update_2241384_3232942|url-status=dead|title=Season ticket update – Hearts<!-- Bot generated title -->|archive-date=26 August 2013|access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref>
A deadline of 12 July 2013 was set for interested parties to put in formal bids for the club;<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/hearts-administrators-set-bid-deadline-for-club.1372350075|title=Hearts administrators set bid deadline for club|work=Herald Scotland|date=27 June 2013 }}</ref> there were three bids entered for the club which were received from the supporters group "The Foundation of Hearts",<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/news/foundation-of-hearts-submits-offer-1-2999263|title=Foundation of Hearts submits offer|website=Scotsman.com}}</ref> the second from a new company called "HMFC limited" which was backed by American firm Club Sports 9 and a third from former Livingston FC owner [[Angelo Massone]] through Five Star Football Limited.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/hearts-administration-three-bids-in-for-club-1-3000487|title=Hearts administration: Three bids in for club|website=Scotsman.com}}</ref>

On 15 August 2013, "The Foundation of Hearts" were given preferred bidders status to make a CVA with Hearts' creditors. The money that the foundation used to purchase the club came from monthly donations from fans; the foundation received an interest-free loan from a wealthy fan, which was to be paid back using the monthly direct debts from the fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/426157/Foundation-of-Hearts-direct-greatest-fan-drive|title=Foundation of Hearts direct 'greatest' fan drive|author=David Ewart|work=Express.co.uk|date=September 2013}}</ref> On 2 December, Hearts' creditors agreed to the CVA deal proposed by "The Foundation of Hearts".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.insolvencynews.com/article/16298/corporate/hearts-cva-agreed-by-creditors|title=Hearts CVA agreed by creditors|website=Insolvencynews.com}}</ref>

The club's relegation from the [[Scottish Premiership]] was confirmed on 5 April 2014.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26796705 | title=Hearts' relegation from the Scottish Premiership was confirmed despite victory against Partick Thistle. | publisher=[[BBC Sport]] | work=bbc.co.uk/sport | date=5 April 2014 | access-date=6 April 2014}}</ref> Hearts won 4–2 away to [[Partick Thistle F.C.|Partick Thistle]], but [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] beat [[Motherwell F.C.|Motherwell]] 3–2, making it impossible for Hearts to catch up.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.eurosport.com/football/scottish-premier-league/2013-2014/hearts-relegated-despite-victory_sto4202415/story.shtml|title=Hearts relegated despite victory|date=5 April 2014|website=Eurosport.xom|access-date=2 November 2021}}</ref>

On Monday 12 May 2014, The [[Ann Budge]] fronted Bidco 1874 took control of Heart of Midlothian Plc, thus bringing to an end to Vladimir Romanov's involvement with the club. Budge, who fronted and financed the Bidco 1874 group which took over the reins at the club, became an unpaid executive chairwoman of the club. The Bidco group planned to hold the club for a possible five years, before the fans backed Foundation of Hearts supporters group take control. The Foundation put in £1&nbsp;million for the running of the club until the final legal exit of administration. The Foundation then paid a further £2.6&nbsp;million (£2.5m to cover the loan given by Bidco1874 Ltd to Hearts to finance the Creditors' Voluntary Agreement + £100,000 for the shares) to take 75% of the shares in the club and with that the running and decision making within the club. In addition, the Foundation also committed itself to provide a further £2.8m (£1.4m per year for two years) working capital for the club. Funding for the deal came from 8000+ people donating cash via a monthly direct debit.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27347133|title=Hearts: Ann Budge to start at Tynecastle on Monday|newspaper=BBC Sport|date=9 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.foundationofhearts.org/faqs/|title=Foundation of Hearts|website=Bbc.co.uk|access-date=5 June 2014|archive-date=31 May 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140531090820/http://www.foundationofhearts.org/faqs/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The club officially exited [[Administration (law)|administration]] on 11 June 2014, also bringing to an end the signing embargo that had been imposed upon the club a year earlier.<ref>{{cite news|last=McLauchlin|first=Brian|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/27794267|title=Hearts: Club exit administration, signing ban lifted|access-date=3 April 2018|work=BBC Sport|date=11 June 2014}}</ref>

=== Post administration ===
Hearts earned an immediate return to the [[Scottish Premiership]] by clinching the [[2014–15 Scottish Championship]] title with seven games remaining.<ref>[http://www.scotzine.com/2015/03/hearts-crowned-spfl-championship-title-winners/ Hearts have been SPFL Championship title winners] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521031717/http://www.scotzine.com/2015/03/hearts-crowned-spfl-championship-title-winners/ |date=21 May 2015 }} Scotzine. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.</ref> Hearts remained undefeated for the first 20 league matches before a 3–2 home defeat to [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]] ended that run.<ref>[http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-2-falkirk-3-unbeaten-run-over-for-jambos-1-3670211 Hearts 2–3 Falkirk: Jambos Unbeaten Run Ends] Edinburgh Evening News. 24 January 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.</ref> They won the title, winning 29 of 36 games, scoring 96 goals, conceding just 26 goals with a points total of 91.<ref>{{cite web |title=Scottish Premiership Table 2019/20 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/scottish-premiership/table |website=BBC.co.uk |access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref> They finished the season 21 points ahead nearest challengers city-rivals [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]] and 24 points ahead of third placed [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]]. The season included handing [[Cowdenbeath F.C.|Cowdenbeath]] a joint club record defeat 10–0.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/31563172 Heart of Midlothian 10–0 Cowdenbeath] BBC Sport. 28 February 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.</ref> At the [[Professional Footballers' Association Scotland|PFA Scotland]] Awards, Hearts had six players named in [[PFA Scotland Team of the Year#Championship 2|Championship Team of the Year]],<ref>[http://pfascotland.co.uk/2015/news/pfa-scotland-announce-teams-of-the-year/ PFA Scotland Teams of the Year 2014–15] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518110322/http://pfascotland.co.uk/2015/news/pfa-scotland-announce-teams-of-the-year/ |date=18 May 2015 }} PFA Scotland. 1 May 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.</ref> two [[PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year|Young Player of the Year]] nominees,<ref>[http://pfascotland.co.uk/2015/news/pfa-scotland-player-of-the-year-nominees/ PFA Scotland Young Player of the Year 2014–15 nominees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150519155702/http://pfascotland.co.uk/2015/news/pfa-scotland-player-of-the-year-nominees/ |date=19 May 2015 }} PFA Scotland. 24 April 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.</ref> three Championship Player of the Year nominees,<ref>[http://pfascotland.co.uk/2015/news/pfa-announce-player-of-the-year-nominees/ PFA Scotland Player of the Year 2014–15 nominees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520141126/http://pfascotland.co.uk/2015/news/pfa-announce-player-of-the-year-nominees/ |date=20 May 2015 }} PFA Scotland. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.</ref> and [[Robbie Neilson|Neilson]] shortlisted for [[PFA Scotland Manager of the Year|Manager of the Year]].<ref>[http://pfascotland.co.uk/2015/news/gordon-strachan-announces-pfas-manager-of-year-nominees/ PFA Scotland Manager of the Year 2014–15 nominees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518123741/http://pfascotland.co.uk/2015/news/gordon-strachan-announces-pfas-manager-of-year-nominees/ |date=18 May 2015 }} PFA Scotland. 30 April 2015. Retrieved 19 May 2015.</ref>

This period of renewed stability unravelled in the years following 2015. Despite finishing as runners up in the [[2019 Scottish Cup final]], the club could only achieve mid-table placings in [[2016–17 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|2017]], [[2017–18 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|2018]] and [[2018–19 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|2019]]. This decline took a turn for the worse in [[2019–20 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|2019–20]], and Hearts were relegated after finishing bottom of the [[Scottish Premiership]], having won only four matches across the course of the season (which had been truncated due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]).<ref>{{cite news |title=Celtic champions & Hearts relegated after SPFL ends season |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52646282 |access-date=21 May 2020}}</ref> Their relegation was confirmed in June 2020, after league reconstruction talks instigated by Budge collapsed. The club confirmed that they would be pursuing legal action against the SPFL following their demotion to the [[Scottish Championship]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Hearts to mount legal challenge over Scottish Premiership relegation |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53053246 |access-date=17 June 2020}}</ref> The legal action failed, as a [[Scottish Football Association]] arbitration panel ruled that the SPFL had acted within its powers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53526063 |title=Hearts & Partick Thistle relegations confirmed by arbitration panel |website=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=27 July 2020 |access-date=27 July 2020}}</ref>

[[Robbie Neilson]] was appointed as Hearts manager for a second time in June 2020, signing a three-year deal.<ref>{{cite news |title=Robbie Neilson: Hearts name Dundee Utd boss to replace Daniel Stendel |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53131136 |access-date=22 June 2020}}</ref> Former manager [[Jim Jefferies (footballer)|Jim Jefferies]] was recruited as an advisor to the board and manager in July.<ref>{{cite news |title=Jim Jefferies: Ex-Hearts boss returns as sporting director search halted |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/53415655 |access-date=16 July 2020}}</ref> In August 2020, Andrew McKinlay was appointed as the club's new Chief Executive.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chairman's Statement {{!}} Heart Of Midlothian Football Club|url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/article/chairmans-statement-1-2-3-4|access-date=17 August 2020|website=Heartsfc.co.uk}}</ref> In June 2021, club captain Steven Naismith announced his retirement from football, taking up the role of Football Development Manager, focusing on the development of youth players "making their way towards the first team".<ref>{{cite web|title=Naismith retires and takes up new role {{!}} Heart Of Midlothian Football Club|url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/article/naismith-retires-and-takes-up-new-role|access-date=16 June 2021|website=Heartsfc.co.uk}}</ref>

On 30 August 2021, Hearts chairwoman Ann Budge officially transferred the club's shares to the Foundation of Hearts, meaning Hearts officially became the biggest fan owned club in the United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-fans-will-officially-own-their-club-today-as-foh-shares-transfer-is-completed-3363793/|title= Hearts fans will officially own their club TODAY as FoH shares transfer is completed|access-date=30 August 2021|work=Edinburgh Evening News}}</ref>

Hearts won the [[2020–21 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|2020–21]] Scottish Championship, finishing ahead of second-placed [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] by 12 points.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/hearts-clinch-championship-title | title=Hearts clinch Championship title &#124; SPFL }}</ref> This confirmed their return to the Scottish Premiership. In their first [[2021–22 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|season]] back in the top flight, Hearts finished third and secured European group stage football in the [[UEFA Conference League]]. The following season, [[2022–23 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|2022–23]], Hearts secured a fourth-placed finish. After finishing third in the [[2023–24 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|2023–24]] season they returned to European football – initially entering the [[UEFA Europa League]] final play-off stage, however they failed to advance and dropped into the UEFA Conference League [[UEFA Conference League#Group stage and knockout phase|league stage]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Barry |date=5 May 2024 |title=Hearts secure third place: European info and dates with £5m UEFA income guaranteed |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-secure-third-place-european-info-and-dates-with-ps5m-uefa-income-guaranteed-4616982 |access-date=29 July 2024 |website=Edinburgh Evening News}}</ref> After gaining a single point in their first six league games (the worst start to a season in the club's history), manager [[Steven Naismith]] was sacked on 22 September 2024, with Neil Critchley replacing him as head coach a month later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club Statement: Steven Naismith – Hearts |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/club-statement-steven-naismith |access-date=2024-09-22 |website=www.heartsfc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Anderson |first=Barry |date=21 September 2024 |title=Hearts report and player ratings v St Mirren: Fans chant against Steven Naismith amid a critical situation |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-report-and-player-ratings-v-st-mirren-fans-chant-against-steven-naismith-amid-a-critical-situation-4791710 |access-date=22 September 2024 |website=Edinburgh Evening News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Neil Critchley named new Head Coach – Hearts |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/neil-critchley-named-new-head-coach |access-date=2024-10-15 |website=www.heartsfc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref>

After discussions with [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton]] owner [[Tony Bloom]] throughout the [[2024–25 Scottish Premiership|2024–25 season]], <ref>{{Cite web |last=McLauchlin |first=Brian |date=2024-09-16 |title=Hearts & Brighton owner in talks over recruitment & possible investment |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c8j772z8medo |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> on 20 November 2024 Hearts announced that they would be the exclusive partner of Jamestown analytics in Scotland, the same analytics software used by Bloom's side in the [[Premier League]], [[Como 1907|Como]] in [[Serie A]] and [[Royale Union Saint-Gilloise]] in the [[Belgian Pro League]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hearts partner with Jamestown Analytics |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/hearts-partner-with-jamestown-analytics |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=www.heartsfc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> The software was first used to appoint [[Neil Critchley]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Sked |first=Joel |date=2024-11-20 |title=Hearts confirm Jamestown Analytics partnership: Recruitment, analysis, Jones role |url=https://www.heartsstandard.co.uk/news/24737442.hearts-confirm-partnership-jamestown-analytics/ |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=Hearts Standard |language=en}}</ref> as head coach in October after [[Steven Naismith]] was sacked after having the worst start to a season in the clubs history.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Club Statement: Steven Naismith – Hearts |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/club-statement-steven-naismith |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=www.heartsfc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-22 |title=Steven Naismith: Hearts sack head coach after eight successive defeats |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cdjeygg03meo |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> [[Neil Critchley|Critchley]] was later sacked in April after failing to make the top 6 before the split.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McLauchlin |first=Brian |title=BBC Sport - How did Critchley's tenure unfold? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/cly1pvv1dpdo}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Club Statement: Critchley & Garrity depart – Hearts |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/club-statement-critchley-garrity-depart-2 |access-date=2025-11-07 |website=www.heartsfc.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> On 25 June 2025 Hearts announced that [[Tony Bloom]] would officially join the Hearts board after completing an investment giving him a 29% stake in the club.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tony bloom investment complete |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/tony-bloom-investment-complete}}</ref> The next season Hearts began the league with an unbeaten run including a 3–1 win over [[2024-25 Scottish Premiership|2024–25]] league winners [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]].<ref>{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a096Hoc01FM&t=326s |title=FULL-TIME SCENES and reaction as Hearts beat Celtic to go eight points clear at the top! 📸 |date=2025-10-26 |last=Sky Sports Football |access-date=2025-11-07 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

== Colours and badge ==
{{Commons|Heart of Midlothian F.C. kits}}
[[File:The Heart of Midlothian.JPG|thumb|220x220px|The [[Heart of Midlothian (Royal Mile)|Heart of Midlothian]] mosaic, on which the current club crest is based]]

The original Hearts [[football strip]] was all white shirts and trousers with maroon trimmings, and a heart sewn onto the chest.<ref name="historical kits"/> For one season they played in red, white and blue stripes.<ref name="historical kits"/> These were the colours of a club called St. Andrew, who had taken their name and colours from the [[University of St Andrews]], that Hearts had absorbed. Since then the predominant club colours have been maroon and white.<ref name="historical kits">{{cite web|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Scottish_Football_League/Heart_of_Midlothian/Heart_of_Midlothian.htm |title=Heart of Midlothian|publisher=Historical Football Kits |access-date=13 August 2011}}</ref> The strip typically has a maroon top and a white collar,<ref name="historical kits"/> although the strip was predominantly white in the 2010–11 season.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/sport/Revealed-Hearts39--radical-new.6426773.jp|title=Revealed: Hearts' radical new strip|work=[[Edinburgh Evening News]]|publisher=Johnston Press|date=19 July 2010|access-date=13 August 2011}}</ref> The shorts are normally white, although maroon was used in the 2008–09 season.<ref name="historical kits"/> The socks are normally maroon with some white detail.<ref name="historical kits"/>

Hearts' current home kit is all maroon.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/24-25-home-kit-revealed |title=24/25 HOME KIT REVEALED |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. |date=31 May 2024 |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>

The badge is a heart, based on the [[Heart of Midlothian (Royal Mile)|Heart of Midlothian mosaic]] on the [[Royal Mile]]. There is a tradition to spit on the mosaic when passing, harking back to the days when the city jail stood there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.timberbush-tours.co.uk/news-offers/the-story-of-scotlands-famous-heart/|title=Timberbush Tours - The Story of Scotland's Famous Heart|website=Timberbush-tours.co.uk|access-date=27 July 2018}}</ref>

For the [[2014–15 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|2014–15]] season the club chose to commemorate 100 years since [[McCrae's Battalion]] with not only a commemorative strip, of maroon shirt, white shorts and black socks, but with a commemorative badge as well. The club chose to have no sponsor on the home top as a mark of respect to those who had joined the regiment.

=== Kit manufacturers and sponsors ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
! Period !!Kit manufacturer!!Shirt sponsor (front)!!Shirt sponsor (sleeve)
|-
|1975–1982 || rowspan=4| [[Umbro]]|| rowspan=1 | ''No sponsor'' || rowspan=26 | ''No sponsor''
|-
|1982–1984 || Alexander's
|-
|1984–1985 || [[Renault]]
|-
|1985–1986 || rowspan=2| [[Kyocera|Mita]]
|-
|1986–1987 || rowspan=6| [[Bukta]]
|-
|1987–1988 || [[Kyocera|Mita Copiers]]
|-
|1988 || ''No sponsor'' 
|-
|1988–1989 || Novaphone
|-
|1989–1990 || Thorn Security
|-
|1990–1991 || rowspan=2| Miller Homes
|-
|1991–1992 || rowspan=2| [[Admiral (sportswear)|Admiral]]
|-
|1992–1993 || rowspan=5| [[Strongbow (cider)|Strongbow]]
|-
|1993–1995 || [[Asics]]
|-
|1995–1997 || [[Pony (brand)|Pony]]
|-
|1997–2000 || Olympic Sports
|-
|2000–2002 || [[Erreà]]
|-
|2002–2005 || [[Reebok]] || all:sports
|-
|2005–2007 || [[Hummel International|Hummel]] || rowspan=2| [[Ūkio bankas]]
|-
|2007–2011 || rowspan=2| [[Umbro]]
|-
|2011–2012 || rowspan=2| [[Wonga.com]]
|-
|2012–2014 || rowspan=2| [[Adidas]]
|-
|2014–2015 || ''No sponsor'' (Home) / Foundation of Hearts (Away)
|-
|2015–2017 || [[Puma (brand)|Puma]] || rowspan=2| [[Save the Children]]
|-
|2017–2021 || rowspan=5| [[Umbro]]
|-
|2021–2022 || [[Motor Neurone Disease Association|MND Scotland]]
|-
|2022–2024 || rowspan=2| [[Motor Neurone Disease Association|MND Scotland]] (Home) / Stellar Omada (Away and Third)
|-
|2024 || FanHub
|-
|2024–2025 || rowspan=2| Stellar Omada || rowspan=2| ASC Edinburgh Ltd<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/asc-edinburgh-ltd-revealed-as-men-s-sleeve-sponsor |title=ASC EDINBURGH LTD REVEALED AS MEN'S SLEEVE SPONSOR |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. |date=2 August 2024 |access-date=13 August 2024}}</ref>
|-
|2025– || [[Hummel International|Hummel]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/hummel-to-become-new-technical-kit-supplier |title=hummel to become new Technical Kit Partner |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. |date=14 February 2025 |access-date=11 May 2025}}</ref>
|}

== Stadium ==
{{Main|Tynecastle Park}}

Hearts initially played at [[The Meadows, Edinburgh|The Meadows]], Powburn and [[Powderhall]] before moving to the [[Gorgie]] area in 1881. In 1886, they moved to their current site, [[Tynecastle Park]], named for the Tynecastle Tollhouse at the entrance to the grounds of Merchiston.<ref>"The Definitive History of the Heart of Midlothian Football Club" by Alex H. Knight, club archivist.</ref> The stadium has hosted nine full [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]] international matches.

For most of the 20th century, Tynecastle was a mostly terraced ground, with a seated main stand that was designed by [[Archibald Leitch]] and opened in 1919. The terraced sections were replaced by the Gorgie, Wheatfield and Roseburn Stands in the mid-1990s, making Tynecastle an all-seated stadium. In 2017, the main stand was demolished and replaced by a brand new stand which increased the ground's capacity to 20,099.<ref name="capacity"/> While this work was undertaken, Hearts played some of their home league matches at the nearby [[Murrayfield Stadium]].<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/hearts-to-stage-games-at-murrayfield-due-to-main-stand-delay-1-4521745 |title=Hearts to stage games at Murrayfield due to main stand delay |first=Barry |last=Anderson |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=3 August 2017 |access-date=4 August 2017}}</ref>

== Rivalry ==
{{Main|Edinburgh derby}}

[[File:Edinburgh Derby 2006.jpg|right|thumb|Hearts midfielder [[Paul Hartley]] (No. 10) prepares to take a [[Direct free kick|free kick]] in an [[Edinburgh derby]] match against [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]], played on 26 December 2006.]]
Hearts have a traditional local rivalry in [[Edinburgh]] with [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]]; the [[Edinburgh derby]] match between the two clubs is one of the oldest rivalries in world football.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com/live/leisure/spectator_sports.aspx |title=Spectator sports |publisher=[[City of Edinburgh Council]] |access-date=24 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090628051859/http://www.edinburgh-inspiringcapital.com/live/leisure/spectator_sports.aspx |archive-date=28 June 2009 }}</ref> [[Graham Spiers]] has described it as "one of the jewels of the Scottish game".<ref>{{Cite news|author-link=Graham Spiers |last=Spiers |first=Graham |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article2797038.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811235342/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/scotland/article2797038.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=11 August 2011 |title=Edinburgh derby is the jewel of game in Scotland |work=The Times  |publisher=News International|date=3 November 2007 |access-date=22 February 2010}}</ref> The clubs first met on Christmas Day 1875, when Hearts won 1–0, in the first match ever contested by Hibs. The two clubs became distinguished in Edinburgh after a five-game struggle for the [[East of Scotland Shield|Edinburgh Football Association Cup]] in 1878, which Hearts finally won with a 3–2 victory after four successive draws.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/games/187804201.html |title=Sat 20 Apr 1878 EFA Cup Hearts 3 Hibernian 2 |publisher=London Hearts Supporters' Club |access-date=25 February 2010}}</ref> The clubs have met twice in a Cup Final, in the [[1896 Scottish Cup final]], which Hearts won 3–1<ref name="logie green"/> and the [[2012 Scottish Cup final]] which Hearts won 5–1. The 1896 final is also notable for being the only Scottish Cup Final to be played outside [[Glasgow]].<ref name="logie green">{{Cite news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/capitalcupclassics/Logie-Green-the-final-Edinburgh.2762269.jp |title=Logie Green: the final Edinburgh didn't want |work=The Scotsman  |date=31 March 2006 |access-date=25 February 2010 |last=Halliday |first=Stephen}}</ref>

Hearts have the better record in derbies.<ref name = "derby record">{{cite web|url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/tea/hibernian.html |title=Hibernian |publisher=London Hearts Supporters' Club |access-date=24 February 2010}}</ref> Approximately half of all derbies have been played in local competitions and [[friendly match|friendlies]].<ref name = "derby record"/> Hibs recorded the biggest derby win in a competitive match when they won 7–0 at [[Tynecastle F.C.|Tynecastle]] on New Year's Day 1973.

While it has been noted that religious, ethnic or political background lies behind the rivalry, that aspect has been described as minor in relation to the [[sectarianism in Glasgow]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eEL69iDskI4C&q=hibernian+edinburgh+catholic&pg=PA215 |title=Scotland in the 20th Century |author = Thomas Martin Devine and Richard J. Finlay |publisher=[[Edinburgh University Press]] |year=1996 |access-date=16 August 2010 |quote=Sectarian loyalties became articulated in club support for, respectively, Glasgow's [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]] and [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], Edinburgh's Hibs and Hearts and, early on, for Dundee's Hibs (from 1923 [[Dundee United F.C.|United]]) and [[Dundee F.C.]] |isbn=0-7486-0751-X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OfNbUfnmPoIC&q=hibernian+edinburgh+catholic&pg=PA123 |title=Sport in Britain 1945–2000 |author=Richard Holt and Tony Mason |year=2000 |access-date=16 August 2010 |publisher=[[Blackwell Publishers]] |isbn=0-631-17153-3 |quote=Other rivalries such as between Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian in Edinburgh or the [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]] and [[Dundee United F.C.|Dundee United]] divide were but pale reflections of this fiercer and peculiarly Scottish rivalry.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vtChCoG6veMC&q=hibernian+edinburgh+catholic&pg=PA258 |quote=Sectarianism of a more muted kind also lay beneath the Hearts and Hibs split in Edinburgh |title=Sport and the British: a Modern History |author=Richard Holt |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |year=1989 |access-date=16 August 2010 |isbn=0-19-285229-9}}</ref> In practice geography has been the main factor in establishing the support bases of the Edinburgh rivals: support for Hibs has always been founded in [[Leith]] and the surrounding areas in the north and east of the city, whereas the rest of Edinburgh has tended towards Hearts. Although the clubs are inescapable rivals, the rivalry is mainly "good-natured" and has had beneficial effects due to the demographic diversities; considering both of the clubs' territories have a variety of neighbourhoods that differ economically, politically,  denominationally, or all three at once.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/edinburghcultura0000camp |url-access=registration |page=[https://archive.org/details/edinburghcultura0000camp/page/132 132] |author=Donald Campbell |quote=Since both Hearts and Hibs originated in the [[Old Town, Edinburgh|Old Town]], rivalry between the clubs was always inescapable.|title=Edinburgh: a Cultural and Literary History |isbn =1-902669-73-8 |year=2003 |access-date=16 August 2010 |publisher=Signal Books}}</ref><ref name = "forget the old firm"/>

== Supporters and culture ==
Heart of Midlothian are one of two full-time professional football clubs in [[Edinburgh]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotland.org/about/fact-file/population/index.html |title=Population of Scotland, Statistics of Scottish City population |publisher=Scotland.org |access-date=24 February 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303130239/http://www.scotland.org/about/fact-file/population/index.html |archive-date=3 March 2009 }}</ref> Hearts' average attendance during the [[2022–23 in Scottish football|2022–23 season]] was 18,525.<ref>{{cite web |title=Attendances |author=European Football Statistics |url=http://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/avesco.htm |access-date=30 May 2023}}</ref> Important matches (particularly the [[Edinburgh derby]], [[Heart of Midlothian F.C. in European football|European fixtures]], and games against the [[Old Firm]]) always see [[Tynecastle Park|Tynecastle]] at or very close to full capacity.<ref name = "forget the old firm">{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/forget-the-old-firm-this-edinburgh-rivalry-has-a-different-dimension-c23xgcdhfwc|title=Forget the Old Firm, this Edinburgh rivalry has a different dimension |work=The Times |publisher=News International|date=7 November 2009|first=Tom |last=Dunsmuir |access-date=9 August 2011}}</ref>

=== Songs and chants ===
"The Hearts Song" was written and performed by Scottish comedian [[Hector Nicol]], a [[St Mirren F.C.|St Mirren]] fan. A new modernised version of "The Hearts Song", performed by Colin Chisholm and the Glasgow Branch, has been played before matches at Tynecastle in recent seasons, though the original version returned for the [[2019–20 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|2019–20]] season. In the [[2020–21 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|2020–21]] season the modern version once again replaced the old version.

The folk anthem "There Will Always Be Heart of Midlothian" by [[Neil Grant (musician)|Neil Grant]] has been played regularly at Tynecastle Park since 2018. At the request of the Foundation of Hearts, Neil performed the rousing track live at Tynecastle during the Ladbrokes Premiership match against [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]] on 26 January 2019. The track gained additional exposure after being played on the BBC's popular ''[[Off the Ball (radio series)|Off the Ball]]'' radio series.{{citation needed|date=May 2022}}

=== In popular culture ===
Celebrity fans of Hearts include [[Stephen Hendry]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Stephen Hendry |url=http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/PlayersAlphabeticalArticle/0,,13165~2234503,00.html |publisher=worldsnooker.com |date=1 December 2010 |access-date=12 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131001012039/http://www.worldsnooker.com/page/PlayersAlphabeticalArticle/0%2C%2C13165~2234503%2C00.html |archive-date=1 October 2013 }}</ref> [[Ronnie Corbett]],<ref>{{cite news |title=Comedian Ronnie Corbett launches Welsh Premier League |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/19258982 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 August 2012 |access-date=12 January 2014 }}</ref> [[Ken Stott]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/18063893|title=Edinburgh A-list stirred by Scottish Cup final derby|publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 May 2012 |access-date=15 May 2012}}</ref> [[Alex Salmond]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/99944-first-minister-alex-salmond-hails-all-edinburgh-cup-final-classic/ |title=First Minister Alex Salmond hails all Edinburgh cup final classic |publisher=[[Scottish Television|STV]] |work=local.stv.tv |date=15 May 2012 |access-date=8 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120519212819/http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/magazine/99944-first-minister-alex-salmond-hails-all-edinburgh-cup-final-classic/ |archive-date=19 May 2012 }}</ref> [[Chris Hoy|Sir Chris Hoy]], [[Wattie Buchan]], [[Eilidh Doyle]],<ref>[http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/media/news/2014-news-page/march-2014/17-03-14-child-hampden/ EILIDH CHILD RELISHING HOME SUPPORT AT HAMPDEN] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140408083447/http://www.britishathletics.org.uk/media/news/2014-news-page/march-2014/17-03-14-child-hampden/ |date=8 April 2014 }} British Athletics. 17 March 2014. Retrieved 30 March 2014.</ref> [[Lee McGregor]], [[Andrew Oldcorn]], [[Gavin Hastings]], [[Martin Geissler]], [[Nicky Campbell]], [[Tom Wilson (DJ)|Tom Wilson]], [[Grant Hutchison]] and [[Scott Hutchison]].

Grove Street and the Ballas, two rival gangs in the 2004 video game ''[[Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas]]'', dress in green and maroon clothes respectively. Since ''[[Grand Theft Auto]]'' developer [[Rockstar North]] is based in Edinburgh, fans believe this to be a reference to Hearts and their Edinburgh derby rivals [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Pilcher |first=Ross |date=1 September 2019 |title=GTA San Andreas: Are the gangs and their colours and nod to Hearts and Hibs? |url=https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/gta-san-andreas-gangs-colours-16827991 |work=Edinburgh Live |location=Edinburgh |publisher= |access-date=6 January 2024}}</ref>

Hearts were featured in the American comedy-drama series ''[[Succession (TV series)|Succession]]'' (in the episodes "[[Dundee (Succession)|Dundee]]" and "[[DC (Succession)|DC]]") as part of a storyline in which [[Roman Roy]] buys the team to impress his Scottish-born billionaire father [[Logan Roy]], only to discover that Logan actually supports Hearts' rivals [[Hibernian F.C.|Hibernian]].

In the 2022 film ''[[Aftersun]]'', Sophie ([[Frankie Corio]]) can be seen wearing a [[1998–99 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season|1998–99]] Hearts shirt on more than one occasion.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fowler |first=Craig |date=25 November 2022 |title=Why does the main character in critically-acclaimed movie Aftersun wear a Hearts strip? |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/why-does-the-main-character-in-critically-acclaimed-movie-aftersun-wear-a-hearts-strip-3931892 |work=[[Edinburgh Evening News]] |location=[[Edinburgh]]|publisher= |access-date=6 Jan 2024}}</ref>

== European record ==
{{Further |Heart of Midlothian F.C. in European football}}

== Honours ==
=== Major honours ===
[[File:Hearts Scottish Cup 2012.JPG|thumb|upright|The [[Scottish Cup]] is the oldest national trophy in world football. Above, it is draped in maroon and white ribbons following Heart of Midlothian's 5–1 victory over Edinburgh rivals Hibernian in the [[2012 Scottish Cup final|2012 final]].]]
*'''[[List of Scottish football champions|Scottish Premiership]] and predecessors''' (1890–present):
**Champions (4): '''[[1894–95 Scottish First Division|1894–95]], [[1896–97 Scottish First Division|1896–97]], [[1957–58 Scottish First Division|1957–58]], [[1959–60 Scottish First Division|1959–60]]'''
**Runners–up (14): [[1893–94 Scottish First Division|1893–94]], [[1898–99 Scottish First Division|1898–99]], [[1903–04 Scottish First Division|1903–04]], [[1905–06 Scottish First Division|1905–06]], [[1914–15 Scottish First Division|1914–15]], [[1937–38 Scottish First Division|1937–38]], [[1953–54 Scottish First Division|1953–54]], [[1956–57 Scottish First Division|1956–57]], [[1958–59 Scottish First Division|1958–59]], [[1964–65 Scottish First Division|1964–65]], [[1985–86 Scottish Premier Division|1985–86]], [[1987–88 Scottish Premier Division|1987–88]], [[1991–92 Scottish Premier Division|1991–92]], [[2005–06 Scottish Premier League|2005–06]]
*'''[[Scottish Cup]]''' (1874–present):
**Winners (8): '''[[1890–91 Scottish Cup|1890–91]], [[1895–96 Scottish Cup|1895–96]], [[1900–01 Scottish Cup|1900–01]], [[1905–06 Scottish Cup|1905–06]], [[1955–56 Scottish Cup|1955–56]], [[1997–98 Scottish Cup|1997–98]], [[2005–06 Scottish Cup|2005–06]], [[2011–12 Scottish Cup|2011–12]]'''
**Runners–up (9): [[1902–03 Scottish Cup|1902–03]], [[1906–07 Scottish Cup|1906–07]], [[1967–68 Scottish Cup|1967–68]], [[1975–76 Scottish Cup|1975–76]], [[1985–86 Scottish Cup|1985–86]], [[1995–96 Scottish Cup|1995–96]], [[2018–19 Scottish Cup|2018–19]], [[2019–20 Scottish Cup|2019–20]], [[2021–22 Scottish Cup|2021–22]]
*'''[[Scottish League Cup]]''' (1947–present):
**Winners (4): '''[[1954–55 Scottish League Cup|1954–55]], [[1958–59 Scottish League Cup|1958–59]], [[1959–60 Scottish League Cup|1959–60]], [[1962–63 Scottish League Cup|1962–63]]'''
**Runners–up (3): [[1961–62 Scottish League Cup|1961–62]], [[1996–97 Scottish League Cup|1996–97]], [[2012–13 Scottish League Cup|2012–13]]

=== Minor honours ===
*'''[[List of winners of the Scottish Championship and predecessors|Scottish Championship]]''' (second tier, 1893–present):
**Winners (3): [[1979–80 Scottish First Division|1979–80]], [[2014–15 Scottish Championship|2014–15]], [[2020–21 Scottish Championship|2020–21]]
**Runners–up (2): [[1977–78 Scottish First Division|1977–78]], [[1982–83 Scottish First Division|1982–83]]
*'''[[1919 Victory Cup|Victory Cup]]''' (1919)
**Runners–up: 1919
*'''[[Inter City Football League]]''' (1899–1904): 1901–02, 1902–03 (2, record)
*'''[[Edinburgh Football League]]/East of Scotland League''' (1894–1908): 1894–95, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1897–98, 1898–99, 1899–1900, 1903–04 (7, record)<ref name=sfhaesfl>[http://sfha.org.uk/eastofscotlandsupp.htm East of Scotland League], Scottish Football Historical Archive, 5 August 2020</ref>
*'''[[Edinburgh Football League|North-Eastern Cup]]''' (1908–1914): 1909–10, 1912–13 (2, record)<ref name=sfhaesfl/>
*'''[[Rosebery Charity Cup]]''' (1882–1945): 32 times (record)<ref name=sfharcc>[http://sfha.org.uk/roseberycharity.htm Rosebery Charity Cup], Scottish Football Historical Archive, 18 July 2020</ref>
*'''[[Wilson Cup (football)|Wilson Cup]]''' (1906–1946): 21 times (record)<ref>[http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/str/wilson.html Hearts Wilson Cup Results], London Hearts Supporters Club</ref>
*'''[[East of Scotland Shield]]''' (1875–1990): 48 times<ref>[http://sfha.org.uk/eosshield.htm East of Scotland Shield], Scottish Football Historical Archive, 17 June 2020</ref>
*'''Dunedin Cup''' (1909–1933): 13 times (record)<ref>[http://sfha.org.uk/dunedincup.htm Dunedin Cup], Scottish Football Historical Archive, 18 June 2020</ref>
*'''[[Festival Cup]]''' (2003–2004): 2003, 2004
*'''[[Football World Championship]]''': 
**'''Winners''': [[1901–02 World Championship (football)|1902]]
**Runners–up: [[1895 World Championship (football)|1895]]

== Player of the year ==

*2012–13 {{flagicon|LTU}} [[Marius Žaliūkas]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20130507/players-player-of-the-year_2241631_3140100 | title=Players' Player of the Year | publisher=HOMFC | access-date=22 May 2013 | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130707045431/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20130507/players-player-of-the-year_2241631_3140100 | archive-date=7 July 2013 | url-status=dead }}</ref> 
*2013–14 {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jamie MacDonald (footballer)|Jamie MacDonald]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/article/the-winners-are-in- | title=THE WINNERS ARE IN! | publisher=HOMFC | date=5 May 2014 | access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.thefootyblog.net/2017/01/20/where-are-they-now-hearts-5-1-scottish-cup-winners-2012/ | title=Where Are They Now? Hearts 5-1 Scottish Cup Winners 2012 | publisher=The Footy Blog | date=20 January 2017 | access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref>
*2014–15 {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jamie Walker (footballer)|Jamie Walker]]<ref>{{cite web | url=http://terracepodcast.net/season-preview-heart-of-midlothian/ | title=HOMFC: 2015/16 SEASON PREVIEW | publisher=Terrace Podcast | date=9 April 2018 | access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/32448178 | title=HOM 2:2 Rangers | publisher=BBC Sport | date=2 May 2015 | access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref>
*2015–16 {{flagicon|CMR}} [[Arnaud Djoum]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/article/award-winning-night | title=AWARD-WINNING NIGHT | publisher=HOMFC | date=26 April 2016 | access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref>
*2016–17 {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jamie Walker (footballer)|Jamie Walker]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/jamie-walker-returns-to-hearts-after-agreeing-long-term-deal-1-4956337|title = Jamie Walker returns to Hearts after agreeing long-term deal}}</ref>
*2017–18 {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Christophe Berra]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/defenders-shine-in-hearts-player-of-the-year-awards-1-4720887 | title=Defenders shine in Hearts' Player of the Year awards | publisher=[[Edinburgh News]] | date=9 April 2018 | access-date=22 May 2019 | archive-date=27 July 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727123026/https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/defenders-shine-in-hearts-player-of-the-year-awards-1-4720887 | url-status=dead }}</ref>
*2018–19 {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Steven Naismith]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/article/naismith-does-the-double-at-poty-awards | title=NAISMITH DOES THE DOUBLE AT POTY AWARDS | publisher=HOMFC | date=13 May 2019 | access-date=22 May 2019}}</ref>
*2020–21 {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Craig Gordon]]
*2021–22 {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Craig Gordon]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/news/article/heroes-honoured-at-forever-hearts | title= Heroes honoured at Forever Hearts | publisher = HOMFC | date=9 May 2022 | access-date=17 May 2022}}</ref>
*2022–23 {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Lawrence Shankland]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Andrea |date=2023-04-24 |title=Hearts Player of the Year Awards |url=https://stellaruk.co.uk/hearts-player-of-the-year-awards/ |access-date=2024-05-24 |website=Stellar Omada |language=en-US}}</ref>
*2023–24 {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Lawrence Shankland]]<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/player-of-the-year-2023-24 | title= Player of the Year - 2023/24 | publisher = HMFC | date=29 April 2024 | access-date=11 May 2024}}</ref>
*2024–25 {{flagicon|SCO}} [[James Penrice]]<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=28 April 2025 |title=Player of the Year 2025 |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/blogs/news/player-of-the-year-2030 |website=Heart of Midlothian FC |location=Edinburgh, Scotland |publisher=Heart of Midlothian FC |access-date=4 May 2025}}</ref>

== Hall of fame ==

The club established their hall of fame in 2006 to commemorate the "great players whose grit, skill, dedication and professionalism" helped make them a "bedrock" of the club.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date= |title=Hall of Fame |url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/pages/hall-of-fame |website=Heart of Midlothian FC |location=Edinburgh, Scotland |publisher= |access-date=29 September 2025}}</ref>

'''Players and managers'''

*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Robertson (footballer, born 1964)|John Robertson]] (2006)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Willie Bauld]] (2006)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Dave Mackay]] (2006)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Paul Hartley]] (2006)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Gary Mackay]] (2006)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Cumming (Scottish footballer)|John Cumming]] (2006)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Steven Pressley]] (2006)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Craig Gordon]] (2007)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Craig Levein]] (2007)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jimmy Wardhaugh]] (2007)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Tommy Walker (footballer, born 1915)|Tommy Walker]] (2007)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Alex Young (footballer, born 1937)|Alex Young]] (2007)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Freddie Glidden]] (2007)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Alfie Conn Sr.]] (2009)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Donald Ford]] (2009) 
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jim Jefferies (footballer)|Jim Jefferies]] (2009) 
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Henry Smith (Scottish footballer)|Henry Smith]] (2009)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Bobby Walker (footballer, born 1879)|Bobby Walker]] (2009)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Alex MacDonald (footballer, born 1948)|Alex MacDonald]] (2016) 
*{{flagicon|SCO}}  [[Sandy Jardine]] (2016)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} {{flagicon|USA}} [[Barney Battles Jr.]] (2016)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Colquhoun (footballer)|John Colquhoun]] (2016)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Ian Crawford (footballer)|John (Ian) Crawford]] (2016)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Tom Purdie|Thomas Haig Purdie]] (2016)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jim Cruickshank]] (2016)
*{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Gordon Marshall (footballer, born 1939)|Gordon Marshall]] (2016)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Drew Busby]] (2018)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Walter Kidd]] (2018)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Alan Anderson (footballer)|Alan Anderson]] (2018)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jock White]] (2018)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Bobby Kirk (footballer)|Bobby Kirk]] (2022)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jim Brown (footballer, born 1950)|Jim Brown]] (2022)


'''Teams''' 

'''The [[1997–98 Scottish Cup]] winners'''

Manager: {{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jim Jefferies (footballer)|Jim Jefferies]]
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Gilles Rousset]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Dave McPherson (footballer)|Dave McPherson]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[David Weir (Scottish footballer)|David Weir]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Paul Ritchie (footballer, born 1975)|Paul Ritchie]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Gary Naysmith]]
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Stefano Salvatori]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Neil McCann]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Steve Fulton]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Colin Cameron (footballer)|Colin Cameron]]
*{{flagicon|AUT}} [[Thomas Flögel]]
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Stéphane Adam]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Grant Murray]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[John Robertson (footballer, born 1964)|John Robertson]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jim Hamilton (footballer, born 1976)|Jim Hamilton]]


'''The [[2011–12 Scottish Cup]] winners'''

Manager: {{flagicon|POR}} [[Paulo Sérgio (footballer, born 1968)|Paulo Sérgio]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Jamie MacDonald (footballer)|Jamie MacDonald]]
*{{flagicon|AUS}} [[Ryan McGowan]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Andy Webster (footballer, born 1982)|Andy Webster]]
*{{flagicon|LTU}} [[Marius Žaliūkas]] ([[Captain (association football)|c]])
*{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Danny Grainger]]
*{{flagicon|ESP}} [[Suso Santana]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Ian Black (footballer, born 1985)|Ian Black]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Darren Barr]]
*{{flagicon|CZE}} [[Rudi Skácel]]
*{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Andrew Driver]]
*{{flagicon|IRL}} [[Stephen Elliott (footballer)|Stephen Elliott]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Mark Ridgers]]
*{{flagicon|MAR}} [[Mehdi Taouil]]
*{{flagicon|UKR}} [[Denys Prychynenko]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Scott Robinson (footballer)|Scott Robinson]]
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Craig Beattie]]


'''The Wallace Mercer Lifetime Achievement Award'''
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Wallace Mercer]] (2006)
*The [[McCrae's Battalion#Battalion members|1914–15 Heart of Midlothian squad]] (2007)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} [[Bobby Parker (footballer, born 1925)|Bobby Parker]] (2009)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} Robert Wilson (2016)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} Pilmar Smith (2018)
*{{flagicon|SCO}} Clare Cowan (2022)

== Club records ==
;Attendance
*'''Highest home attendance:''' 53,396 v [[Rangers F.C.|Rangers]], 13 February 1932, Scottish Cup, [[Tynecastle Park|Tynecastle]]
*'''Highest average home attendance:''' 28,195, [[1948–49 in Scottish football|1948–49 season]] (15 games)<ref>{{cite book| first=David| last=Ross| title=The Roar of the Crowd: Following Scottish football down the years| publisher=Argyll publishing| year=2005| isbn=978-1-902831-83-1| page=94}}</ref>
;Single game
*'''Biggest win:''' 21–0 vs Anchor, EFA Cup, 1880<ref name=autogenerated1 />
*'''Biggest defeat:''' 1–8 vs [[Vale of Leven F.C.|Vale of Leven]], Scottish Cup, 1888<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite book |title=Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2011–12 |last1=Rollin |first1=Glenda |last2=Rollin |first2=Jack |year=2011 |isbn=978-0755362318 |page=732|publisher=Headline }}</ref>
;Caps and appearances
*'''Most capped players:''' [[Craig Gordon]], 75 (for [[Scotland men's national football team|Scotland]])<ref>[http://www.londonhearts.com/scotland/clubs/heartofmidlothian.html#SummarybyCaps Summary of caps] (Retrieved 19:21, 25 November 2006 (UTC))</ref>
*'''Youngest competitive player:''' [[Scott Robinson (footballer)|Scott Robinson]] made his debut aged 16 years, 1 month and 14 days old.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hearts/2011/09/25/i-m-glad-i-made-decision-to-focus-on-being-a-midfielder-i-m-a-rubbish-up-front-says-hearts-kid-scott-robinson-86908-23445222/ | title=I'm a rubbish up front, says Hearts kid Scott Robinson | publisher=Daily Record | date=25 September 2011 | access-date=4 October 2011}}</ref>
*'''Most appearances:''' [[Gary Mackay]], 640 (515 L, 58 SC, 46 LC, 21 E) 1980&nbsp;– 1997<ref>[http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/aaplayersbyapp.html Appearances] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061104221912/http://londonhearts.com/scores/players/aaplayersbyapp.html |date=4 November 2006 }} (Retrieved 19:21, 25 November 2006 (UTC))</ref>
*'''Most league appearances:''' [[Gary Mackay]], 515
*'''Most honours:''' [[John Cumming (Scottish footballer)|John Cumming]], 2 League titles, 1 Scottish Cup, 4 League Cups, 1954–1962<ref>[http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/misc/rollofhonour.htm Most honours] (Retrieved 25 November 2006 (UTC))</ref>
;Goals
*'''Most league goals:''' [[John Robertson (footballer, born 1964)|John Robertson]], 214, 1983–1998<ref>[http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/players/aaplayersbygoals.html Goals] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061106190336/http://londonhearts.com/scores/players/aaplayersbygoals.html |date=6 November 2006 }} (Retrieved 19:21, 25 November 2006 (UTC))</ref>
*'''Most goals in a season:''' [[Barney Battles Jr.]], 44, 1930–31 season<ref>[http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/sea/1930-31.html#Scorers Top scorers by season] (Retrieved 25 November 2006 (UTC))</ref>
;Transfers
*'''Highest transfer fee paid:''' £1.7m, [[Eduardo Ageu]], [[C.D. Santa Clara|Santa Clara]], 2025
*'''Highest transfer fee received:''' £9m, [[Craig Gordon]], [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], 2007<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20090424/hearts-announce-robust-financial-results_2241384_1637264 |title=Hearts announce robust financial results |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. |date=24 April 2009 |access-date=4 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407060307/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20090424/hearts-announce-robust-financial-results_2241384_1637264 |archive-date=7 April 2014 }}</ref> (British record fee paid for a goalkeeper at the time)<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2318489/Graig-Gordon-joins-Sunderland-for-record-fee.html | title=Graig Gordon joins Sunderland for record fee | work=The Daily Telegraph | location=London | date=7 August 2007 | access-date=4 October 2011}}</ref>

==Players==
===Current squad===
{{updated|1 January 2026}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.heartsfc.co.uk/squads/first-team/playing-squad|access-date=30 October 2021|website=Heart of Midlothian F.C.|title=First Team Players &#124; Heart of Midlothian Football Club}}</ref>
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=1|nat=SCO|pos=GK|name=[[Craig Gordon]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|club-captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=2|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Frankie Kent]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=3|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Stephen Kingsley]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=4|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Craig Halkett]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|vice-captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=5|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Jamie McCart]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=6|nat=COD|pos=MF|name=[[Beni Baningime]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=7|nat=BEL|pos=FW|name=[[Elton Kabangu]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=8|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=[[Calem Nieuwenhof]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=9|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=[[Lawrence Shankland]]||other=[[Captain (association football)|team-captain]]}}
{{Fs player|no=10|nat=POR|pos=FW|name=[[Cláudio Braga (footballer, born 1999)|Cláudio Braga]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=11|nat=BFA|pos=FW|name=[[Pierre Landry Kaboré]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=12|nat=NOR|pos=DF|name=[[Christian Borchgrevink]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=14|nat=AUS|pos=MF|name=[[Cameron Devlin]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=15|nat=AUT|pos=DF|name=[[Michael Steinwender]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=16|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[Blair Spittal]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=17|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[Alan Forrest]]|other=}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=18|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Harry Milne]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=19|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Stuart Findlay]]|other=on loan from [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]}}
{{Fs player|no=21|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=[[James Wilson (footballer, born 2007)|James Wilson]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=22|nat=ISL|pos=MF|name=[[Tómas Bent Magnússon]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=23|nat=SCO|pos=GK|name=Harry Stone|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=24|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[Finlay Pollock]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=25|nat=GER|pos=GK|name=[[Alexander Schwolow]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=27|nat=NOR|pos=MF|name=[[Sander Kartum]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=28|nat=SCO|pos=GK|name=[[Zander Clark]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=29|nat=ALB|pos=MF|name=[[Sabah Kerjota]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=30|nat=SCO|pos=GK|name=[[Ryan Fulton]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=31|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Oisin McEntee]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=40|nat=BRA|pos=MF|name=[[Eduardo Ageu]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=89|nat=GRE|pos=FW|name=[[Alexandros Kyziridis]]|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=NED|pos=DF|name=Jordi Altena|other=}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=KAZ|pos=FW|name=[[Islam Chesnokov]]|other=}}
{{Fs end}}
<!------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 -- DO NOT include reserve team players in current squad!
 -- DO NOT add new players before their signing is officially announced by the club!
 -- This is Wikipedia, not a football gazette. Any unconfirmed and unsourced signing will be removed at sight!
&nbsp;–- Thanks in advance *READ THESE*
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------>

===On loan===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=20|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Yan Dhanda]]|other=on loan at [[Dundee F.C.|Dundee]]}}
{{Fs player|no=32|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Adam Forrester]]|other=co-operation loan with [[St Johnstone F.C.|St Johnstone]]}}
{{Fs player|no=33|nat=SCO|pos=GK|name=Liam McFarlane|other=on loan at [[Alloa Athletic F.C.|Alloa Athletic]]}}
{{Fs player|no=36|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=Callum Sandilands|other=on loan at [[Montrose F.C.|Montrose]]}}
{{Fs player|no=41|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=Kenzi Nair|other=co-operation loan with [[The Spartans F.C.|The Spartans]]}}
{{Fs player|no=43|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=Bobby McLuckie|other=on loan at [[Hamilton Academical F.C.|Hamilton Academical]]}}
{{Fs mid}}
{{Fs player|no=48|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=Gus Stevenson|other=co-operation loan with [[Montrose F.C.|Montrose]]}}
{{Fs player|no=49|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=Matthew Gillies|other=on loan at [[Stranraer F.C.|Stranraer]]}}
{{Fs player|no=77|nat=CRC|pos=FW|name=[[Kenneth Vargas]]|other=on loan at [[Liga Deportiva Alajuelense|Alajuelense]]}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=SCO|pos=DF|name=[[Lewis Neilson]]|other=on loan at [[Falkirk F.C.|Falkirk]]}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=Dom Plank|other=on loan at [[Stranraer F.C.|Stranraer]]}}
{{Fs player|no=|nat=SCO|pos=MF|name=[[Macaulay Tait]]|other=on loan at [[Livingston F.C.|Livingston]]}}
{{Fs end}}

===Retired numbers===
{{Fs start}}
{{Fs player|no=26|nat=LTU|pos=DF|name=[[Marius Žaliūkas]]}} (posthumous)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57698498|title=Hearts retire number 26 shirt for season to honour Zaliukas|publisher=BBC Sport|date=2 July 2021|access-date=7 July 2021}}</ref>
{{Fs end}}

=== Development and under-20s squad ===
''For more information on reserves and under-20s, see [[Heart of Midlothian F.C. Reserves and Academy]]''

=== Hearts Women squad ===
''For more information on Hearts Women squad, see {{Section link|Heart of Midlothian W.F.C.|Players}}''

== Club staff ==

=== Corporate staff ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Position !! Name
|-
| Honorary president || [[Ann Budge]]
|-
| Chairman || Calum Paterson
|-
| Chief executive || Andrew McKinlay
|-
| Non executive director || James Anderson
|-
| Non executive director || Ralph Findlay
|-
| Non executive director || James Franks
|-
| Non executive director || Claire Hammond
|-
| Finance director || Euan Forbes
|-
| Sporting director || Graeme Jones
|-
| Head of recruitment || William Lancefield
|-
| Club ambassador || [[Gary Locke (Scottish footballer)|Gary Locke]]
|-
| Foundation of Hearts chairman || Gerry Mallon
|-
| Central services director || Lesley Blair
|-
| Marketing & commercial director || Catriona McCallum
|}

=== Coaching staff ===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Position !! Name
|-
| Head coach || [[Derek McInnes]]
|-
| Assistant head coach || [[Paul Sheerin]]
|-
| First team coach || [[Alan Archibald]]
|-
| Goalkeeping coach || [[Paul Gallacher]]
|-
| Technical development manager || [[Shelley Kerr]]
|-
| Academy director || [[Andy Webster (footballer, born 1982)|Andy Webster]]
|-
| Head of academy coaching || [[Laurie Ellis]]
|-
| B team head coach || [[Angus Beith]]
|-
| Set piece coach || Ross Grant
|-
| Performance analysts || Euan Blondin<br/>Tom White
|-
| Physiotherapists || Joel Cliffe<br/>Claire Rankin
|-
| Sports scientist || Mike Williams
|}

=== Hearts Women staff ===
''For more information on Hearts Women staff, see {{Section link|Heart of Midlothian W.F.C.|Coaching Staff}}''

== Managers ==
{{Main|List of Heart of Midlothian F.C. managers}}

{{div col|colwidth=28em}}
* Peter Fairley (1901–1903)<ref name="Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901">{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/page/Managers/0,,10289,00.html |title=Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901 |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. |work=Hearts News |access-date=5 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919045127/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/page/Managers/0%2C%2C10289%2C00.html |archive-date=19 September 2011 }}</ref>
* William Waugh (1903–1908)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[James McGhee]] (1908–1909)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[John McCartney (footballer, born 1866)|John McCartney]] (1910–1919)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[Willie McCartney]] (1919–1935)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[David Pratt (footballer)|David Pratt]] (1935–1937)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[Frank Moss (footballer, born 1909)|Frank Moss]] (1937–1940)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[David McLean (footballer, born 1884)|David McLean]] (1941–1951)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[Tommy Walker (footballer, born 1915)|Tommy Walker]] (1951–1966)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* John Harvey (1966–1970)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[Bobby Seith]] (1970–1974)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[John Hagart]] (1974–1977)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[Willie Ormond]] (1977–1980)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[Bobby Moncur]] (1980–1981)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[Tony Ford (footballer, born 1944)|Tony Ford]] (1981)<ref name = "Introducing the 28 Hearts managers since 1901"/>
* [[Alex MacDonald (footballer, born 1948)|Alex MacDonald]] (1982–1986)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/man/alexmacdonald1st.html | title=Alex MacDonald 1st From 10 Dec 1981 | publisher=London Hearts | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Sandy Jardine]] and [[Alex MacDonald (footballer, born 1948)|Alex MacDonald]] (1986–1988)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/man/alexmacdonaldandsandyjardine.html | title=Alex MacDonald and Sandy Jardine From 01 Nov 1986 To 30 Nov 1988 | publisher=London Hearts | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Alex MacDonald (footballer, born 1948)|Alex MacDonald]] (1988–1990)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/man/alexmacdonald2nd.html | title=Alex MacDonald 2nd From 01 Dec 1988 To 09 Sep 1990 | publisher=London Hearts | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Joe Jordan]] (1990–1993)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/man/joejordan.html | title=Joe Jordan From 10 Sep 1990 To 03 May 1993 | publisher=London Hearts | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Sandy Clark]] (1993–1994)<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/clark-given-the-hearts-hot-seat-on-permanent-basis-1.760255 | title=Clark given the Hearts hot seat on permanent basis | work=Herald Scotland | location=Glasgow | date=11 May 1993 | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-hearts-dismiss-clark-1424172.html |title=Football: Hearts dismiss Clark |work=The Independent |location=London |date=21 June 1994 |access-date=8 October 2011 |archive-date=12 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121212013445/http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-hearts-dismiss-clark-1424172.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Tommy McLean]] (1994–1995)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/man/tommymclean.html | title=Tommy McLean From 01 Jul 1994 To 30 Jun 1995 | publisher=London Hearts | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Jim Jefferies (footballer)|Jim Jefferies]] (1995–2000)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.londonhearts.com/scores/man/jimjefferies.html | title=Jim Jefferies From 04 Aug 1995 To 07 Nov 2000 | publisher=London Hearts | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Craig Levein]] (2000–2004)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01a2-0ea72c6b68b9-7d0f15acffc5-1000--levein-leaves-hearts/ | title=Levein leaves Hearts |publisher=UEFA  | date=29 October 2004 | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[John Robertson (footballer, born 1964)|John Robertson]] (2004–2005)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2004/nov/03/newsstory.sport3|title=Hearts set on Robertson|website=[[TheGuardian.com]]|date=3 November 2004}}</ref>
* [[George Burley]] (2005)<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4367202.stm | title=Burley in shock exit from Hearts | publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Sport | date=22 October 2005 | access-date=5 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Graham Rix]] (2005–2006)<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4416826.stm | title=Hearts unveil Rix as head coach | publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Sport | date=8 November 2005 | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/4832716.stm | title=Rix sacked as Hearts head coach | publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Sport | date=22 March 2006 | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Valdas Ivanauskas]] (2006–2007)<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/5132394.stm | title=Ivanauskas named new Hearts boss | publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Sport | date=30 June 2006 | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/6472263.stm | title=Hearts part with boss Ivanauskas | publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Sport | date=20 March 2007 | access-date=8 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Anatoliy Korobochka]] (2007–2008)
* [[Stephen Frail]] (2008)<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2008/07/09/hearts-part-company-with-steve-frail-after-gardening-leave-as-new-manager-hunt-continues-86908-20637569/ |title=Hearts part company with Steve Frail after gardening leave as new manager hunt continues |work=Daily Record |location=Glasgow |date=9 July 2008 |access-date=8 October 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081203233020/http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/2008/07/09/hearts-part-company-with-steve-frail-after-gardening-leave-as-new-manager-hunt-continues-86908-20637569/ |archive-date=3 December 2008 }}</ref>
* [[Csaba László (footballer, born 1964)|Csaba Laszlo]] (2008–2010)<ref>{{cite news | url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/heart_of_midlothian/7500278.stm | title=Hearts appoint Laszlo as manager | publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |work=BBC Sport | date=11 July 2008 | access-date=5 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Jim Jefferies (footballer)|Jim Jefferies]] (2010–2011)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://sport.scotsman.com/football/-Jim-Jefferies-appointed-new.6029001.jp | title=Jim Jefferies appointed new Hearts manager |work=The Scotsman  | date=30 January 2010 | access-date=5 October 2011}}</ref>
* [[Paulo Sérgio (footballer, born 1968)|Paulo Sérgio]] (2011–2012)<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,11095_7077008,00.html | title=Hearts appoint Paulo Sergio | publisher=BSKYB | work=Sky Sports | date=2 August 2011 | access-date=5 October 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20120607/paulo-exits-hearts_2241384_2805297 |title=Paulo exits Hearts |publisher=Heart of Midlothian F.C. |date=7 June 2012 |access-date=7 June 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120615135442/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20120607/paulo-exits-hearts_2241384_2805297 |archive-date=15 June 2012 }}</ref>
* [[John McGlynn (Scottish footballer)|John McGlynn]] (2012–2013)<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/hearts/9357260/John-McGlynn-named-Hearts-manager.html# | title=John McGlynn named Hearts manager | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | location=London |date=26 June 2012 | access-date=26 June 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/hearts/9900434/Hearts-sack-John-McGlynn.html | title=Hearts sack John McGlynn | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | location=London | date=28 February 2013 | access-date=19 March 2013}}</ref>
* [[Gary Locke (Scottish footballer)|Gary Locke]] (2013–2014)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/in-full/hearts-gary-locke-not-worried-by-derby-pressure-1-2925473 |title=Hearts' Gary Locke not worried by derby pressure - the Scotsman |access-date=26 December 2019 |archive-date=26 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191226203519/https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/hearts/in-full/hearts-gary-locke-not-worried-by-derby-pressure-1-2925473 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[Robbie Neilson]] (2014–2016)
* [[Ian Cathro]] (2016–2017)
* [[Craig Levein]] (2017–2019)
* [[Daniel Stendel]] (2019–2020)
* [[Robbie Neilson]] (2020–2023)
* [[Steven Naismith]] (2023–2024)
* [[Neil Critchley]] (2024–2025)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c148y75zx7zo|title='Honoured' Critchley excited by what Hearts can do this season
|work=bbc.co.uk/sport |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=15 October 2024|accessdate=6 February 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c9dj3qe78vgo|title=Critchley sacked by Hearts after six months|work=bbc.co.uk/sport |publisher=[[BBC Sport]] |date=26 April 2025|accessdate=27 April 2025}}</ref>
* [[Derek McInnes]] (2025–)
{{div col end}}

== Hearts Women ==
{{Main|Heart of Midlothian W.F.C.}}

In 2009, Hearts took over Musselburgh Windsor Ladies Football Club, changing their name to Hearts Ladies FC.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20090811/womens-football-club-launched_2241384_1749543 |title=Women's football club launched! |publisher=Heartsfc.co.uk |access-date=8 November 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120904080211/http://www.heartsfc.co.uk/articles/20090811/womens-football-club-launched_2241384_1749543 |archive-date=4 September 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://scotwomensfootball.com/league-competitions/swpl-2/|title=Scottish Building Society SWPL 2 - Scottish Women's Football|website=Scotwomensfootball.com|access-date=27 July 2018|archive-date=23 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180323183049/http://scotwomensfootball.com/league-competitions/swpl-2/|url-status=dead}}</ref> They currently play in the [[Scottish Women's Premier League]] under the name [[Heart of Midlothian W.F.C.|Hearts Women]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.womenspremierleague.co.uk/fixtures-results/|title=Fixtures & Results - Scottish Building Society Scottish Women's Premier League|website=Womenspremierleague/co/uk|access-date=27 July 2018|archive-date=23 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623170234/https://www.womenspremierleague.co.uk/fixtures-results/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The team play their home games at [[Oriam|The Oriam]], Riccarton.<ref>{{cite web|title=[...]Home games are played at @Oriamscotland with tickets available at the gate[...]|url=https://twitter.com/heartswomenfc/status/1234518175351525383|access-date=9 July 2020|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite book | last = Hoggan | first = Andrew | title = Hearts in Art | type = Hardback | year = 1995 | publisher = Mainstream | isbn = 1-85158-736-5 |ref=none}}
* {{cite book |last=Inglis |first=Simon |date=1996 |title=Football Grounds of Britain |publisher=Collins Willow |isbn=0-00-218426-5}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*{{official website}}

{{Heart of Midlothian F.C.}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Heart of Midlothian
|titlestyle = background:maroon;color:white
|list =
{{Heart of Midlothian F.C. seasons}}
{{Heart of Midlothian F.C. Hall of Fame}}
{{Heart of Midlothian F.C. managers}}
{{Heart of Midlothian F.C. matches}}
{{Heart of Midlothian F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{Heart of Midlothian F.C. squad}}
}}
{{Scottish Professional Football League}}
{{Scottish Premier League}}
{{Scottish Football League}}
{{Original Scottish Football League clubs}}
{{Football in Edinburgh}}
{{Portal bar|Association football|Scotland}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Heart Of Midlothian F.C.}}
[[Category:Heart of Midlothian F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Edinburgh]]
[[Category:Football clubs in Scotland]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1874]]
[[Category:Scottish Premier League teams]]
[[Category:1874 establishments in Scotland]]
[[Category:Gorgie]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League teams]]
[[Category:Scottish Football League founder members]]
[[Category:Scottish Cup winners]]
[[Category:East of Scotland Football League teams]]
[[Category:Scottish Professional Football League teams]]
[[Category:Scottish League Cup winners]]
[[Category:Companies that have entered administration in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Professional football clubs in Scotland]]