Hearts appoint Neil Critchley as new head coach: Contract details revealed, assistant landed, key duo have say

The 45-year-old Englishman has signed a contract until the summer of 2027 and replaces Steven Naismith, who was sacked last month. He is joined at Tynecastle by his long-time assistant Mike Garrity.

Critchley was sacked by Blackpool in August, but makes a swift return to front-line management with the Jambos. He has also had spells at QPR as head coach and worked under Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool and Steven Gerrard at Aston Villa.

Hearts have used Brighton owner Tony Bloom’s Jamestown Analytics to help unearth their next head coach, with Critchley identified from the algorithms within that database.

The Jambos were also in discussions last week with 64-year-old Norwegian Per-Mathias Hogmo, before those talks broke down on Friday. The Hearts hierarchy reconvened swiftly over the weekend to move in on Critchley, whose first match in charge of Hearts will come against St Mirren on Saturday in the Premiership. The Tynecastle outfit are currently winless in the league and bottom of the table.

“I’m very happy to be able to welcome Neil to Hearts,” said the club’s chief executive Andrew McKinlay. “We’ve made no secret of the fact that analytics has guided our search for a new manager, and that data presented us with many top quality options including Neil.

“During the interview process, we got the opportunity to hear from applicants and get a better understanding of them as people and in particular how they have dealt with and learnt from particular situations both positive and negative in their careers.

“In addition, we were able to ascertain who would fit best into our new model going forward which includes the use of analytics for recruitment and the appointment of a new sporting director with very clear ideas of what we need to do to succeed. This was a vital part of our deliberations as any appointment has to be fully bought into this to ensure that we have the maximum chance of success.

“Following these discussions, it became very clear who the standout candidates were.

“Neil understands well what we are looking to do, has experience at big club environments, none more so than at Liverpool, and is an ambitious coach with a desire to lead his teams to the top.

“Everyone at Hearts is looking forward to Neil getting to work and I’m sure our supporters will give him a warm welcome when we play St Mirren on Saturday, and continue their unrivalled backing of the team.”

Graeme Jones, who is set to take up a role at Hearts as sporting director, added: “I have been privileged enough to be involved in this process ahead of officially commencing my role as Sporting Director at Hearts, and I have been impressed at how robust and concise it has been.

“Our analytics partners, who have an extremely good track record of managerial appointments in the UK and abroad, worked with us to provide a shortlist of compelling and contrasting options, which through interviews and negotiations have led us to today’s announcement.

“Neil was the outstanding candidate based on the analytics, and having spoken with him at length I believe he is who we need to provide success as the club prepares to enter a new, exciting era.

“For Neil to succeed he, like anyone, will need the right environment and I will work closely with him to provide that environment.”