Football - UEFA Champions League - League Phase - Liverpool FC v PSV Eindhoven LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Wednesday, November 26, 2025: Liverpool s Hugo Ekitike walks off with an injury during the UEFA Champions League match between Liverpool FC and PSV Eindhoven at Anfield. Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda LIVERPOOL Anfield MERSEYSIDE ENGLAND PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUK Copyright: xDavidxRawcliffex P2025-11-26-Liverpool_PSV-65
Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken has declared the Champions League a major personal ambition as he prepares for his competitive debut in charge of the Edinburgh club.
The Belgian coach will begin his Tynecastle tenure with a second round qualifier against Austrian side Sturm Graz, with the away leg taking place in just 12 days.
Hearts would need to win three separate qualifying rounds to reach the lucrative Champions League league phase, making the task ahead a significant challenge.
It marks the first time in 20 years that Hearts have been in contention for a place in Europe’s premier club competition.
Vrancken has only experienced this stage of European competition once before, when his KRC Genk side lost to Servette on penalties in the second qualifying round in 2023.
Following that exit, Genk dropped into the Europa League before finishing third in a Conference League group behind Fiorentina and Ferencvaros.
The Belgian coach also reached the Conference League knockout phase play-offs with KAA Gent the following year, before his side fell to Real Betis.
A victory over Sturm Graz would guarantee Hearts at minimum a place in the Europa League league phase, adding further weight to the tie’s importance.
When asked how much of a motivation the Champions League represents, Vrancken was unequivocal: “Very, very big.”
“It’s a place where you want to play and where you want to coach, in the Champions League,” he said, underlining the scale of his ambition.
“It’s the top of what you can do in football, I think,” he added, making clear that nothing less than maximum effort will be acceptable from his squad.
He also acknowledged the guaranteed Europa League incentive, saying: “If you qualify against Sturm Graz you’re already sure of the Europa League league phase.”
“But the Champions League is the highest so everybody will do everything to play there,” Vrancken added, setting the tone for the weeks ahead.
Vrancken and his squad returned on Monday from a week-long pre-season training camp in Spain and face Livingston tomorrow in Scott Pittman’s testimonial match.
Hearts are also searching for a new set-piece specialist after Ross Grant left Gorgie to join Celtic, with assistant Tim Smolders currently covering the role.
Sporting director Graeme Jones is actively seeking a replacement, with Vrancken stressing the importance of finding the right profile rather than simply filling the vacancy.
“You don’t have to replace somebody just to replace him. It has to be quality, of course,” Vrancken said, emphasising his standards for any incoming appointment.
He pointed to the statistical significance of the role, noting: “30 per cent of goals or something like this are scored by a set-piece. It’s important.”
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