Hearts confirm appointment of Derek McInnes as new manager

Hearts have confirmed the appointment of Derek McInnes as their new manager.

The former Kilmarnock and Aberdeen boss has been named as a permanent replacement for Neil Critchley who was sacked last month after Hearts missed out on a top-six place.

He has signed a four-year deal at Tynecastle.

Liam Fox was brought in on an interim basis following Critchley’s dismissal and led the team to four straight victories and a seventh-place Premiership finish.

He departed the club following their victory at Rugby Park on Sunday.

McInnes, who started off his managerial career with St Johnstone, is now taking charge of a fourth Scottish club.

He led Aberdeen to four consecutive second-place finishes between 2015 and 2018 and remains the last manager to split Celtic and Rangers at the top of the Premiership.

He also won the League Cup with the Dons in 2014 and had them in the top four for every one of his seven full seasons at Pittodrie.

Ten months after leaving Aberdeen in 2021, McInnes was handed the reins at Kilmarnock when they were in the Championship.

They would go on to win the second-tier and secured a return to the Premiership in his first season at Rugby Park before finishing fourth in the top-flight.

Killie finished this season in ninth place and McInnes, who wasn’t in the dugout for the game against his new club at the weekend, has now moved east for a new challenge.