​Hearts may have said goodbye to Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin as they departed for Rangers, but new head coach Wouter Vrancken insists the squad remains rich in leadership and character. Shankland captained the team at Tynecastle, while vice-captain Craig Halkett faces an extended spell on the sidelines, not expected back until 2027 as he recovers from injury. Experienced duo Frankie Kent and Beni Baningime have also moved on, yet Vrancken, who arrived from Sint-Truiden last month, isn’t rattled by the changes.
With Halkett, Stephen Kingsley, Jamie McCart, Stuart Findlay, and Harry Milne in the mix, the Hearts squad still brims with personalities, providing a sturdy core of leaders. “We have a lot of leaders in the group, so the number of captains is not a problem,” the Belgian coach said. “Of course, we’ve lost the total central spine of the team, so we must ensure we are strong again. But the players are pushing really hard, and that makes it enjoyable to work with.”
Vrancken emphasized that leadership and responsibility will come from within the squad, even as an official captain remains to be chosen. “Most important for me is that the leaders take the responsibility. We don’t have an official captain yet. We also have Craig Halkett who is out until the end of the year. He is a potential captain, so I’m not concerned about those things.”
As Hearts completed seven signings this summer, Vrancken is now focused on adding a deep-lying midfielder to fill the void left by Devlin’s influence in front of the back line. “It’s difficult to say right now because we already have a big group of players,” he noted. “We have to ensure the squad is not too large, but we do need some quality. We want depth without overloading the group.”
Among the new faces, striker Claudio Braga has attracted interest from clubs like Lyon and Ipswich Town in recent weeks. Yet Vrancken played down any immediate deals, stating: “What I’ve heard is nothing on the table, nothing concrete yet.” He stressed an open and honest line of communication with Braga: “I have an open and honest relationship with Claudio about these things, so there’s nothing to report at the moment.”
For Hearts and their supporters, the focus remains on balance and performance as the squad adapts to the post-Shankland, post-Devlin era. Vrancken’s message is clear: leadership will emerge from within, the group must stay cohesive, and the search for quality reinforcements continues as they build toward a competitive campaign. As he shapes the midfield and strengthens the spine, Hearts aim to combine grit, leadership, and tactical discipline to compete at a high level, even after significant departures.