Derek McInnes Departs Hearts FC to Join Rangers; Club Accelerates Head Coach Search

Heart of Midlothian confirmed on June 17, 2026, that Derek McInnes has left his position as Head Coach to join Rangers. The move was finalized after Rangers met the requested compensation terms for McInnes and his assistants, Alan Archibald and Paul Sheerin. McInnes has signed a three-year deal at Ibrox, replacing Danny Rohl who was announced as RB Salzburg's new manager earlier that day.

McInnes' departure marks the end of a successful tenure at Tynecastle. In his season leading Hearts, he oversaw a remarkable turnaround, taking over a side that had finished in the bottom six and steering them to a first league title challenge in 20 years. Under his leadership, Hearts achieved a record points total and went unbeaten at home in league fixtures while winning at both Celtic Park and Ibrox. The team led the Scottish Premiership for much of the season before narrowly losing out to Celtic on the final day following a controversial week.

Hearts is now pressing forward with appointing a new head coach. Sporting director Graeme Jones is leading the search, with informal talks having already begun with candidates over the weekend and interviews taking place during the week. The club aims to have a new head coach in place by the beginning of the following week, before the first-team squad reports for pre-season training on June 25. At least three candidates from abroad are among those being considered.

The timing of the appointment is critical as Hearts prepares for the new season, including a Champions League second-round qualifier against Sturm Graz scheduled for July 21/22 in Austria, with the return leg at Tynecastle a week later. The squad will also participate in a warm-weather training camp in Spain beginning June 29.

In a statement, Hearts emphasized that despite McInnes' departure, the club's ambitions and commitment to success remain unchanged, attributing the club's progress to clear strategy, significant investment, and strong foundations that extend beyond any individual. The club expressed gratitude to McInnes, Archibald, and Sheerin for their contributions during their time at Tynecastle.