Ken Vrancken marks new beginnings in data-driven heart

With all that flux and not much time to sleep in between, the question is whether Hearts can push back to the top of the table.

Vrankin was clear that this was exactly what the remit needed to do, and he seemed to relish the challenge in his first job outside of Belgium.

He can also sympathize with what Hearts went through last season, losing the title in the final moments of a thrilling campaign.

The same happened to Gente Vranken in 2023, when a late Royal Antwerp goal on the final day denied his side the title.

“It definitely takes time (to get over),” he said.

“But with the new season aiming and working towards new goals, the only way to overcome this is to work for it.

“I hope we’re on the good side of the story, let’s say next time. I think it’s just putting the energy into it and what’s yet to come and not looking back too much.

“The best clubs to work for are the ones that have ambition. I think it’s a good ambition, it’s a good focus, having a good goal. And then we have to work for it and aim as high as possible and then we’ll see where it ends up.”