Heart of Midlothian
2017–18 season
ChairmanAnn Budge[1]
Head coachIan Cathro
(Until 1 August 2017)
Craig Levein
(From 28 August 2017)
StadiumTynecastle Park
Murrayfield Stadium
Premiership6th
League CupGroup stage
Scottish CupQuarter-final (lost to Motherwell)
Top goalscorerLeague:
Kyle Lafferty (12)

All:
Kyle Lafferty (19)
Highest home attendance32,852 (v. Rangers, Premiership, 28 October 2017)
Lowest home attendance6,265 (v. East Fife, League Cup, 22 July 2017)

The 2017–18 season is the 121st season of competitive football by Heart of Midlothian F.C. (Hearts) with the team participating in the Scottish Premiership. Hearts are playing their third consecutive season in the top tier of Scottish football, having been promoted from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2014–15 season.[2] They also competed in the League and Scottish Cup.

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Friendlies

Hearts returned for pre-season training mid June,[3] with the first preseason friendly taking place against Livingston at the start of July.[4] They then headed to Ireland for a five-day training camp in Dublin and Belfast.[5]

1 July 2017[4] Friendly Livingston 0 1 Heart of Midlothian Almondvale Stadium
15:00 HMFC Report Stockton 20' Referee: Newlands

Premiership

19 August 2017 Scottish Premiership Rangers 0 0 Heart of Midlothian Ibrox Stadium
15:00 Dorrans Yellow card 50'
Kranjcar Yellow card 87'
BBC Report Brandon Yellow card 18' Attendance: 49,677
Referee: Collum
9 September 2017 Scottish Premiership Heart of Midlothian 0 0 Aberdeen Murrayfield Stadium
15:00 BBC Report Attendance: 24,248
Referee: Thomson
Man of the Match: Walker
30 September 2017 Scottish Premiership Dundee 2 1 Heart of Midlothian Dens Park
15:00 Waddell 44', 90+3' BBC Report Lafferty 71' Attendance: 7,028
Referee: McLean
25 November 2017 Scottish Premiership Heart of Midlothian 0 0 Ross County Tynecastle Park
15:00 Report Attendance: 15,601
Referee: John Beaton
2 December 2017 Scottish Premiership Heart of Midlothian 1 1 Hamilton Academical Tynecastle Park
15:00 Walker 47' Report Tomas 69' Attendance: 15,357
Referee: Bobby Madden
9 December 2017 Scottish Premiership Heart of Midlothian 1 0 Motherwell Tynecastle Park
15:00 Lafferty 39' Report Attendance: 15,984
Referee: Andrew Dallas
12 December 2017 Scottish Premiership Heart of Midlothian 2 0 Dundee Tynecastle Park
19:45 Gonçalves 30'}
Berra 77'
Report Attendance: 15,566
Referee: Craig Thomson
For upcoming Scottish Premiership fixtures, see the official Heart of Midlothian F.C. website

League Cup

Heart of Midlothian are part of Group B in the League Cup group stages.[9] On 20 June, of the matches were announced by the Scottish Professional Football League[10] with Hearts drawn in North Group B, alongside Dunfermline Athletic, Peterhead, East Fife and Elgin City.[11]

25 July 2017[12] League Cup Group B Peterhead 2 1 Heart of Midlothian Balmoor Stadium
20:00 Brown 6'
McAllister 90' (Penalty)
BBC Report Lafferty 17' Attendance: 1,602
Referee: Northcroft

Scottish Cup

First team player statistics

Captains

Returning defender and former captain Christophe Berra was re-appointed captain for season 2017–18.[13] He took over from now former player Perry Kitchen.[14]

No Pos Name Country No of games Notes
6DFBerra[15]Scotland44Captain
5DFHughes[16]Northern Ireland1Vice Captain

Last updated: 13 May 2018
Source: Competitive match reports.
Competitive matches only
Matches started as captain only
Country: FIFA nationality; No.: Squad number; P: Position; Name: Player name; No. Games: Number of games started as captain.

Squad information

During the 2017–18 season, Hearts have used forty-two players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.

Last Updated 13 May 2018[17]
Number Position Nation Name Totals Premiership League Cup Scottish Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK Scotland SCO Jon McLaughlin 36033+000+003+00
2 DF Northern Ireland NIR Michael Smith 38029+204+001+20
3 DF England ENG Ashley Smith-Brown 301+101+000+00
4 MF Scotland SCO John Souttar 36131+012+003+00
5 DF Northern Ireland NIR Aaron Hughes 23017+201+003+00
6 DF Scotland SCO Christophe Berra 44337+024+013+00
7 MF Scotland SCO Jamie Walker 19214+223+000+00
7 MF Denmark DEN Danny Amankwaa 1205+600+000+10
8 MF Ghana GHA Prince Buaben 2209+804+000+10
9 FW Northern Ireland NIR Kyle Lafferty 421930+6124+042+03
10 MF Cameroon CMR Arnaud Djoum 20015+101+102+00
11 MF France FRA David Milinković 26615+960+001+10
13 GK Scotland SCO Jack Hamilton 905+004+000+00
14 FW Scotland SCO Steven Naismith 16412+240+002+00
15 MF Scotland SCO Don Cowie 33225+304+010+11
16 MF England ENG Connor Randall 27022+200+002+10
18 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Conor Sammon 100+100+000+00
19 DF Poland POL Krystian Nowak 600+302+100+00
20 MF Scotland SCO Ross Callachan 25418+540+002+00
21 MF France FRA Malaury Martin 400+100+300+00
23 FW England ENG Cole Stockton 1504+800+300+00
24 DF Scotland SCO Jordan McGhee 300+003+000+00
24 DF England ENG Demetri Mitchell 1119+000+002+01
25 FW Scotland SCO Rory Currie 200+100+100+00
26 FW Canada CAN Dario Zanatta 110+110+000+00
27 MF Poland POL Rafał Grzelak 1609+402+100+00
28 DF Canada CAN Marcus Godinho 605+000+001+00
30 MF Scotland SCO Jamie Brandon 13011+101+000+00
33 MF Scotland SCO Lewis Moore 16010+500+000+10
36 DF Scotland SCO Daniel Baur 201+100+000+00
38 MF Bulgaria BUL Alex Petkov 100+000+100+00
41 MF Scotland SCO Andy Irving 402+200+000+00
43 FW Scotland SCO Euan Henderson 1303+900+000+10
46 MF Scotland SCO Anthony McDonald 1405+800+001+00
47 MF Scotland SCO Harry Cochrane 24114+810+002+00
48 DF Scotland SCO Chris Hamilton 101+000+000+00
50 MF Scotland SCO Connor Smith 100+100+000+00
52 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Aidan Keena 100+100+000+00
54 FW Scotland SCO Leeroy Makovora 100+100+000+00
55 DF Scotland SCO Cammy Logan 101+000+000+00
66 MF Angola ANG Joaquim Adão 1209+100+002+00
77 FW Portugal POR Esmaël Gonçalves 25716+464+011+00

Appearances (starts and substitute appearances) and goals include those in Scottish Premiership, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Disciplinary record

During the 2017–18 season, Hearts players have been issued with one hundred and one yellow cards and four red. The table below shows the number of cards and type shown to each player. The red card issued to Esmaël Gonçalves during the game versus Kilmarnock on 12 August, for an incident with Kirk Broadfoot[18] was rescinded on appeal,[19] with a yellow card issued for simulation to Kyle Lafferty during the game versus Dundee on 1 April 2018, also rescinded.[20]

Last updated 13 May 2018
Number Position Nation Name Premiership League Cup Scottish Cup Total
Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card Yellow card Red card
2DFNorthern IrelandMichael Smith60000060
4DFScotlandJohn Souttar1000010110
6DFScotlandChristophe Berra60001070
7MFScotlandJamie Walker50000050
7MFDenmarkDanny Amankwaa10000010
8MFGhanaPrince Buaben20000020
9FWNorthern IrelandKyle Lafferty1110010121
10MFCameroonArnaud Djoum20000020
11MFFranceDavid Milinković30000030
14FWScotlandSteven Naismith30001040
15MFScotlandDon Cowie40000040
16MFEnglandConnor Randall51000051
20MFScotlandRoss Callachan40000040
23FWEnglandCole Stockton10100020
24DFScotlandJordan McGhee00100010
24DFEnglandDemetri Mitchell10000010
27MFPolandRafał Grzelak40200060
30MFScotlandJamie Brandon71000071
46MFScotlandAnthony McDonald10000010
47MFScotlandHarry Cochrane51000051
48DFScotlandChris Hamilton10000010
50MFScotlandConnor Smith10000010
66MFAngolaJoaquim Adão50002070
77FWPortugalEsmaël Gonçalves30000030
Total 91440601014

Goal scorers

Last updated 13 May 2018

Place Position Nation Name Premiership League Cup Scottish Cup Total
1FWNorthern IrelandKyle Lafferty124319
2FWPortugalEsmaël Gonçalves6107
3MFFranceDavid Milinković6006
4MFScotlandRoss Callachan4004
FWScotlandSteven Naismith4004
5DFScotlandChristophe Berra2103
6MFScotlandJamie Walker2002
MFScotlandDon Cowie0112
7FWCanadaDario Zanatta1001
DFEnglandDemetri Mitchell0011
DFScotlandJohn Souttar1001
Total 387551

Clean sheets

R Pos Nat Name Premiership League Cup Scottish Cup Total
1 GK Scotland Jon McLaughlin 13 0 2 15
2 GK Scotland Jack Hamilton 2 2 0 4
3 GK Sweden Viktor Noring 0 0 0 0
Total 162219

Last updated: 13 May 2018
Source: Match reports in Competitive matches

Team statistics

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
4 Hibernian 38 18 13 7 62 46 +16 67 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round
5 Kilmarnock 38 16 11 11 49 47 +2 59
6 Heart of Midlothian 38 12 13 13 39 39 0 49
7 Motherwell 38 13 9 16 43 49 6 48
8 St Johnstone 38 12 10 16 42 53 11 46
Source: Soccerway BBC
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Play-off (only if deciding champion, UEFA competitions qualification and second-stage group allocation).[21]
Notes:
  1. Teams play each other three times (33 matches) before the league is split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six).

League Cup table

Pos Team Pld W PW PL L GF GA GD Pts Qualification DNF PET HOM EFI ELG
1 Dunfermline Athletic (Q) 4 2 2 0 0 13 3 +10 10 Qualification for the Second Round 5–1 6–0
2 Peterhead 4 3 0 0 1 7 6 +1 9 2–1 1–0
3 Heart of Midlothian 4 2 0 1 1 7 4 +3 7 2–2p 3–0
4 East Fife 4 1 0 1 2 3 6 3 4 0–0p 3–2
5 Elgin City 4 0 0 0 4 2 13 11 0 0–3 0–1
Source: [22]
Rules for classification: 1) goal difference, 2) goals scored, 3) away goals scored, 4) matches won, 5) away matches won, 6) drawing of lots.[23]
(Q) Qualified to the phase indicated

Division summary

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAAAAHAAAAHAHHHHHHHHAHAAHAHAAHAHAHAAHHA
ResultLWDLDWDLWWLLLDDDWWWDDDWDLWDLDLWDWLLLWL
Position128788777757767766555555555555666666666
Updated to match(es) played on 13 May 2018. Source: [24]
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Management statistics

Last updated on 13 May 2018
Name From To P W D L Win%[note 1]
Ian Cathro[25] 18 July 2017 1 August 2017 4 2 0 2 050.00
Jon Daly[26] 2 August 2017 28 August 2017 4 1 1 2 025.00
Craig Levein[27] 28 August 2017 Present 37 13 12 12 035.14

Club

Staff

Management

Hearts began the season under the stewardship of head coach Ian Cathro, having signed a deal on his appointment until the end of the 2020–21 season.[33] With Hearts having exited the League Cup at the group stages, and with four days until the league started, Hearts sacked Cathro on 1 August.[34] Cathro had won only seven games out of thirty in all competitions since his appointment the previous season.[35] Hearts under-20 coach Jon Daly was appointed interim manager the following day.[36] He was assisted by assistant head coach Austin MacPhee and first team coach Liam Fox.[37]

On 28 August, director of football Craig Levein was appointed as first team manager,[38] with Jon Daly being promoted to first team coach alongside Liam Fox and Paul Gallacher,[39] with Austin MacPhee remaining as assistant manager.[40] As manager rather than head coach, Levein retained some of his role as director of football and his place on the board.[41] He had previously managed Hearts between 2000 and 2004[42] and was awarded a three-year contract.[43] Andy Kirk become the club's under 20's coach replacing Daly.[44]

Stadium

The 2017–18 season Hearts will play in front of a new main stand. Construction began on the new stand during the 201617 season,[45] with demolition of the listed 1914 Archibald Leitch main stand beginning on 15 May 2017.[46] The new stand was expected to be partially open by September 2017.[47]

On 3 August 2017, it was announced that the stand would be unable to open on schedule and as such a small number of games would need to be played at Murrayfield Stadium.[48] This meant the opening of the stand would now be two months late,[49] although the overall project would be delivered on time.[50] During this time games against Aberdeen, St Johnstone and Rangers are to be played at Murrayfield, with a further fixture against Partick Thistle played away from home.[51] The reasons for the delay included adverse weather and the club not processing the order of seating for the new stand on time.[52]

Upon completion of the new main stand the ground will revert to its original name of Tynecastle Park.[53][54] The stadium had been renamed Tynecastle Stadium during the 1990s.[55]

Playing kit

Hearts kits were manufactured by Umbro for the 2017–18 season,[56] ending the club's two-year association with Puma.[57] The club's last association with Umbro ended with Hearts winning the 2012 Scottish Cup Final.[58] The club's new home kit went on sale on 15 June,[59] priced at £48.00[60] for an adults top with kids priced at £37.50.[61] The kit recorded one of the highest ever sales at launch, with over 1,300 sold in 24 hours.[62] The kit, a modern maroon version of an Umbro designed kit from 1977,[63] was sponsored by charity Save the Children,[64] as part of the three-year deal funded through philanthropy in 2015.[65][66]

The away kit for the 2017–18 season is a two tone light blue top, with maroon shorts and light blue socks[67] and features the cobbles from the Heart of Midlothian mosaic embossed into the fabric. The kit went on sale to the public on 7 July,[68] at the same pricing.[69] A third change kit was released on 10 August and features a dark blue top, shorts and socks, with a pink badge and trim.[70]

Both the home and away kit have “This is our story, this is our song” embossed into the neck of the shirt. This is a reference to the main stand mosaic and Hearts song.[67][63]

International selection

Over the course of the season a number of the Hearts squad were called up on international duty. Arnaud Djoum was called up to represent Cameroon,[71] Aaron Hughes to represent Northern Ireland,[72] Bjorn Johnsen to represent Norway[73] and Jack Hamilton to represent Scotland[74] and Nikolay Todorov was called up to represent Bulgaria at under-21 level.[75]

In addition a number of the Hearts squad were called up to represent Scotland at youth level. Chris Hamilton and Marc Leonard were called up to the under-17 squad.[76]

Deaths

The following players and people associated with the club died over the course of the season. Former defender Davie Laing,[77][78] 1998 Scottish Cup winner Stefano Salvatori[79] and former club physio Andy Stevenson.[80]

Awards

The club's annual award ceremony took place on 9 April 2018,[81] with club captain Christophe Berra winning both fans and players player of the year award.[82] The full list of awards are included below.

Club awards

Nation Name Award
Scotland Sean Ward Heart of Midlothian U17s Player of the Year[81]
Scotland Chris Hamilton Heart of Midlothian U20s Player of the Year[81]
Scotland John Souttar Heart of Midlothian Young Player of the Year[81]
England Demetri Mitchell Heart of Midlothian Goal of the Year[81]
NA Heart of Midlothian 4 – 0 Celtic
17 December 2017
Moment of the year[81]
Scotland Christophe Berra Heart of Midlothian Fans Player of the Year[81]
Scotland Christophe Berra Heart of Midlothian Player's Player of the Year[81]
Scotland Craig Levein George Nicolson Memorial Award[81]
Scotland Ron MacNeill Doc Melvin Memorial Cup[81]

Transfers

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