The 2024–25 season was the 144th season of competitive football by Heart of Midlothian. It was the club's fourth season of play back in the top tier of Scottish football since 2020, having been promoted from the Scottish Championship at the end of the previous season, having played just one season in the Scottish Championship. The club had been relegated from the Premiership at the end of the 2019–20 season.
In addition to the domestic league, Hearts competed in the Scottish Cup, the Scottish League Cup the Europa League and the UEFA Conference League.
Results and fixtures
Pre-season / Friendlies Hearts returned for pre-season training on 28 June, with those participating in Euro 2024 and Copa América having staggered returns. They drew in a closed door friendly against Partick Thistle, before heading to Tenerife for a training camp. Hearts returned to Edinburgh to take on Leyton Orient, as part of the club's 150th Anniversary celebrations and remembering the Football Battalion.
The club then welcomed Tottenham Hotspur in a tribute to Dave Mackay, before a closed door game against Burnley and a friendly against Fleetwood Town.
Scottish Premiership
Scottish Cup
Scottish League Cup
UEFA Europa League Play-off round
UEFA Conference League League phase
First team player statistics Captains {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center;" |- ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60|No ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60|Pos ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60|Country ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=150|Name ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|No of games ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|Notes |- |1||FW||||Shankland||39||Team Captain |- |2|||GK||||Gordon||12||Club Captain
Squad information Last updated 18 May 2025 During the 2024–25 campaign, Hearts have used thirty-four players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player. {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 100%; text-align: center;" |- ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" rowspan="2" width="10%" align="center"|Number ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" rowspan="2" width="10%" align="center"|Position ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" rowspan="2" width="10%" align="center"|Nation ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" rowspan="2" width="20%" align="center"|Name ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" colspan="2" align="center"|Totals ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" colspan="2" align="center"|Premiership ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" colspan="2" align="center"|League Cup ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" colspan="2" align="center"|Scottish Cup ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" colspan="2" align="center"|Europe |- ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60 align="center"|Apps ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60 align="center"|Goals ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60 align="center"|Apps ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60 align="center"|Goals ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60 align="center"|Apps ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60 align="center"|Goals ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60 align="center"|Apps ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60 align="center"|Goals ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60 align="center"|Apps ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60 align="center"|Goals
! colspan=16 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players transferred or loaned out during the season who made an appearance
Appearances (starts and substitute appearances) and goals include those in the Scottish Premiership, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.
Disciplinary record During the 2024–25 season, Hearts players were issued eighty-three yellow cards and four red cards. The table below shows the number of cards and type shown to each player. Last updated 18 May 2025 NumberPositionNationNamePremiershipLeague CupScottish CupEuropeTotal1 GK Craig Gordon 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 02 DF Frankie Kent 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 4 0 3 DF Stephen Kingsley 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 04 DF Craig Halkett 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 3 05 DF Daniel Oyegoke 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 06 MF Beni Baningime 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 07 MF Jorge Grant 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 4 0 8 MF Calem Nieuwenhof 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 09 FW Lawrence Shankland 7 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 8 014 MF Cameron Devlin 8 0 0 0 2 1 3 0 13 115 DF Kye Rowles 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 015 DF Michael Steinwender 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 117 MF Alan Forrest 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 018 MF Malachi Boateng 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 019 FW Elton Kabangu 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 020 MG Yan Dhanda 2 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 3 121 FW James Wilson 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 127 FW Liam Boyce 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 027 MF Sander Kartum 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 029 DF James Penrice 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 11 035 DF Adam Forrester 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 6 037 MF Musa Drammeh 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 077 FW Kenneth Vargas 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 4 082 DF Gerald Taylor 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 3 0 Total59 2 3 0 6 2 15 0 83 4
Goal scorers Last updated 18 May 2025 PlacePositionNationNamePremiershipLeague CupScottish CupEuropeTotal1FWLawrence Shankland801092FWElton Kabangu 602083MFBlair Spittal40026FWJames Wilson500164MFAlan Forrest400155FWKenneth Vargas400046FWMusa Drammeh30003MFJorge Grant300037DFFrankie Kent20002DFJames Penrice20002MFYan Dhanda00112MFCalem Nieuwenhof10102MFSander Kartum002028DFCraig Halkett10001FWYutaro Oda10001DFDaniel Oyegoke10001DFJamie McCart10001DFMichael Steinwender10001DFStephen Kingsley10001 Own goals40217 Total4909664
Assists Last updated 18 May 2025 PlacePositionNationNamePremiershipLeague CupScottish CupEuropeTotal1FWLawrence Shankland8011102DFJames Penrice502073MFBlair Spittal30104MFBeni Baningime30104FWKenneth Vargas300144MFMalachi Boateng20002FWLiam Boyce20002FWJames Wilson101025MFCameron Devlin10001MFYan Dhanda10001DFAdam Forrester10001DFAlan Forrest10001FWJorge Grant10001FWElton Kabangu10001FWMusa Drammeh10001GKRyan Fulton10001 Total3506243
Clean sheets {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 95%; text-align: center;" |- ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60| ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60| ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=60| ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=150|Name ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|Premiership ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|League Cup ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|Scottish Cup ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|Europe ! style="background:maroon; color:white;" scope="col" width=80|Total |- | 1 |GK | |Craig Gordon |8 |0 |0 |1 |9 |- | 2 |GK | |Zander Clark |1 |0 |0 |0 |1 |- | 2 |GK | |Ryan Fulton |1 |0 |0 |0 |1 |- ! colspan=4 | Total !10||0||0||1||11
Team statistics League table
Division summary
Uefa Conference League table
Management statistics Last updated 18 May 2025 NameFromToPWDLWin%
Club Ownership and analytics On 20 November 2024, Hearts announced an exclusive Scottish partnership with Jamestown Analytics for player recruitment and opposition analysis.
On 6 May 2025, Tony Bloom proposed investing £9.86 million in Hearts for newly issued non-voting shares representing a 29 per cent economic interest. Foundation of Hearts consulted its members on the proposal. Of 6,208 votes cast, 6,112 supported it and 96 opposed it, producing a majority of 98.5 per cent on a reported turnout of 70 per cent.
Management The club began the season under the management of Steven Naismith, and assistants Gordon Forrest and Frankie McAvoy. Shortly after the first league game of the season, the management team signed a new contract until 2026. Their deals were previously due to expire in 2025.
After a run of eight straight defeats, and finding themselves at the bottom of the league with just one point, the club parted company with Naismith and his assistants. Including the end of the 23/24 season, Hearts had only achieved one win in fifteen competitive fixtures and experienced the worst start to any season in the club's history.
Hearts CEO Andrew McKinlay stated that Results and performances have fallen below the standards expected at this football club and, unfortunately, there is little evidence of any potential upturn in fortunes.
Hearts B team manager Liam Fox, alongside Lee Wallace and Angus Beith were appointed as the club's interim manager team. On 15 October 2024, Neil Critchley was appointed Head Coach, with Mike Garrity appointed as his assistant.
On 26 April 2025, Critchley and his assistant were sacked by the club. Liam Fox was again asked to oversee the first team on an interim basis.
Awards
SPFL awards NameAwardNeil CritchleyScottish Premiership Manager of the Month Award January 2025
PFA awards NameAwardJames PenricePremiership Team of the Year
Club awards NationNameAwardJames PenricePlayers' Player of the YearJames PenriceFans Player of the YearErin HusbandHearts Women Player's Player of the YearEilidh ShoreHearts Women Player of the YearGregor CrookstonB Team Player of the YearGregor CrookstonB Team Players' Player of the YearNA6-0 Win V Dundee1 February 2025Dens ParkMoment of the seasonCraig GordonSave of the SeasonSander KartumGoal of the SeasonJames WilsonSpecial Recognition AwardStevie Johnson FOH Award For Outstanding Service To The ClubDavid AllanDoc Melvin Memorial Cup
Playing kit Hearts kits are manufactured by Umbro for the 2024–25 season, entering the final year of their contract with the club. Stellar Omada, became the club's main sponsor on a three-year deal, replacing MND Scotland. Stellar Omada previously sponsored the club's away kit.
International Selection Over the course of the season a number of the Hearts squad were called up on international duty. Craig Gordon, Zander Clark, Lawrence Shankland and James Wilson was called up to represent Scotland, whilst Cameron Devlin and Kye Rowles were selected to represent Australia. Kenneth Vargas would also be included in Costa Rica's provisional squad ahead of the 2024 Copa América, with him and Gerald Taylor representing Costa Rica in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
In addition a number of the Hearts squad were called up to represent Scotland at youth level. Adam Forrester, Finlay Pollock and Liam McFarlane were called up to the under-21 squad, as well as Alfie Osborne and Taylor Hogarth to the under-17 squad. Macaulay Tait was also called up to the Under 21 squad, but opted to remain at his loan club Livingston.
Deaths The following players and people associated with the club died over the course of the season. Former goalkeeper Anthony Basso, former goalkeeper Gordon Marshall, former defender David Clunie and supporter Stevie Morris who led the club out at the 2022 Scottish Cup final.
Transfers
Players in Player From Fee Kenneth Vargas HeredianoUndisclosed James Penrice LivingstonFree Ryan Fulton Hamilton AcademicalFree Blair Spittal MotherwellFree Daniel Oyegoke BrentfordUndisclosed Musa Drammeh Sevilla AtléticoFree Yan Dhanda Ross CountyFree Malachi Boateng Crystal PalaceUndisclosed Jamie McCart Rotherham UnitedUndisclosed Aiden Haddow CelticUndisclosed Michael Steinwender VärnamoUndisclosed Sander Kartum SK BrannUndisclosed Harry Milne Partick ThistleUndisclosed
Players out