Hearts face Sturm Graz in Champions League qualifying

Hearts’ new manager will kick off their reign with a Champions League second qualifying round tie against Sturm Graz next month.

The Jambos, who are currently searching for a replacement for seemingly Rangers-bound boss Derek McInnes, earned a crack at Europe’s premier competition for the first time in 20 years by finishing second in the William Hill Premiership last term.

They were unseeded for Wednesday’s draw in Nyon and could have been pitted against either Austrian runners-up Graz or Turkish runners-up Fenerbahce, and they arguably landed the more winnable of those two ties.

Graz, who finished two points behind champions LASK, faced two Scottish sides in last season’s Europa League main phase.

They defeated Russell Martin’s Rangers 2-1 in Austria at their 16,000-capacity Merkur Arena in early October and then lost 2-1 away to Celtic later that month in what proved to be Brendan Rodgers’ final home match in charge of the Hoops.

The first leg will take place in Graz on the week of July 21-22, with the return at Tynecastle the following week.

Hearts’ last tilt at Champions League qualification in 2006 was halted by AEK Athens after they overcame Bosnian side Siroki Brijeg in the previous round.