Heart of Midlothian

Brian McLauchlin
BBC Sport Scotland senior reporter in Graz

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It has been 67 days since Hearts last played a competitive match, and it is unlikely they will be involved in anything quite as dramatic as that afternoon at Celtic Park.

They came within minutes of securing their first top-flight title in more than six decades before it slipped out of their grasp.

However, the work done last season has earned Hearts a shot at Champions League football, even if the route to the league phase is long and demanding.

There has also been significant turnover in personnel since May. High-profile departures have seen Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland make the move to Rangers, following last season's head coach, McInnes.

As a result, a new cast has been assembled at Tynecastle over the past few weeks, tasked with building on a campaign that few associated with the club will ever forget.

Wouter Vrancken has arrived and has had little time to settle into his role, while also overseeing a swift recruitment drive to reshape his squad.

The Belgian arrives with an impressive reputation, and those responsible for appointing the 47-year-old are delighted they were able to persuade him to take charge.

Expectations, both among the support and within the club, have risen as the curtain rises on a new campaign.

It would be unfair to judge where this new-look Hearts side stands on the outcome of their tie with Sturm alone, but regardless of the result, a challenging but intriguing season lies ahead.

Read more: Hearts ready to 'go for it' in Champions League quest

Thomas Duncan
BBC Sport Scotland in Graz

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Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken has been speaking to the media before Tuesday night's Champions League second-round qualifier against Sturm Graz.

Here are they key parts of what the Belgian said:

• Hearts are "as ready as possible" to give their best after working hard to get to this point in pre-season.

• Harry Milne will captain the squad tomorrow night, with injured centre-back Craig Halkett named as the club's captain and Stephen Kinglsey, Jamie McCart and Blair Spittal also in the leadership group

• Striker Amadou Ba-Sy had such an impact in Friday's friendly win against Rayo Vallecano that it would have been a "mistake" not to add him to the squad.

• Sturm Graz are a "strong" side with plenty of physicality but also some good players. Hearts have done their analysis as always and feel there are areas they can get opportunities.

• Vrancken says he tried to be "open" with those who missed the squad and praised Josh McPake in particular as one of those who had his best game in Friday's friendly.

• If Hearts have the right quality on the ball they can have success against Sturm Graz's pressure.

• Important to show "guts" from the start and not think about the next round, or other qualifiers and get distracted.

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Hearts will meet Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze if they get past Sturm Graz in Champions League qualifying.

If Hearts lose to Austrian side Sturm, the winners of the tie between Benfica and St Gallen of Switzerland await in the Europa League.

In either case, a daunting task likely lies ahead for Wouter Vrancken's team.

Fenerbahce are heavy favourites to progress against Gornik Zabrze - who finished second in Poland's top flight last season - and the Turkish outfit have a host of big name players in their squad.

Former Manchester City defender Nathan Ake and former Manchester United forward Mason Greenwood have both signed this summer, to go alongside the likes of N'Golo Kante, Marco Asensio, Ederson and Milan Skriniar.

They are ranked 30th in Uefa's club coefficient rankings, more than 100 places above Hearts.

One would also expect Benfica to progress from their tie against St Gallen, should that be the route Hearts go down.

The Portuguese giants were unbeaten in the Primeira Liga last season, but finished third after 11 draws left them behind both Porto and Sporting.

They also reached the knockout phase of the Champions League under Jose Mourinho after victories against Ajax, Napoli and Real Madrid, before Real got their revenge in the play-off round with a 3-1 aggregate victory.

Mourinho has since returned to Los Blancos and has been replaced in the Benfica dugout by former Everton and Fulham boss Marco Silva.

Greek striker Vangelis Pavlidis is a prolific goal scorer, netting 30 times in all competitions last season, while Norway's Andreas Schjelderup and Rafa Silva are dangerous wingers.

Sturm pose a tough test for Vrancken's competitive bow as Hearts boss and things will not get any easier for the Belgian coach and his new-look squad as he tries to guide the Tynecastle outfit back to European group-stage football.

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Amadou Ba-Sy is a late addition to Hearts' Champions League squad after the striker scored twice in Friday's friendly win over Rayo Vallecano.

Winger Rogers Mato is the player to drop out of the 22-man group to accommodate the 6ft, 3in Frenchman signed from Rouen.

Hearts take on Strum Graz in the second qualifying round, with the first leg in Austria on Tuesday.

Three summer signings are omitted; goalkeeper Beau Reus defender MJ Kamson-Kamara and forward Josh McPake.

Alexander Schwolow is expected to play in both legs before completing an agreed switch to Mainz.

Yan Dhanda, Sander Kartum, and Elton Kabangu miss out, while Craig Halkett and Ageu are injured.

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Forward Claudio Braga, 26, is happy at Hearts after an impressive debut season last term and speculation over his future. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Braga is "very excited" by the prospect of playing in the Champions League. (Record, external)

And Portuguese Braga would go through the ups and downs of last season's campaign at Hearts all over again. (Sun, external)

Sunday's Scottish gossip

New recruits Amadou Ba-Sy, MJ Kamson-Kamara, Josh McPake and Beau Reus are not listed in Hearts' 22-man squad for their upcoming Champions League qualifying tie with Austrians Sturm Graz. (Edinburgh Evening News - subscription required, external)

Celtic are planning a move to sign Hearts forward Claudio Braga, 26. (Football Insider, external)

Saturday's Scottish gossip

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Retiring goalkeeper Craig Gordon greeted Hearts supporters and took their acclaim at Tynecastle before Friday's 2-1 friendly win as Amadou Ba-Sy's double secured victory against La Liga side Rayo Vallecano.

Gordon, 43, announced the end of his 25-year career on Thursday, having spent the past six years at first club Hearts. His stints at Tynecastle bookended spells with Sunderland and Celtic, with Gordon having also turned out on loan at Cowdenbeath early in his career and winning 84 Scotland caps.

Summer signing Ba-Sy's two headers gave Wouter Vrancken's team a 2-0 half-time lead.

Sergio Camello's deflected shot reduced Rayo Vallecano's deficit in the second period.

Goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow started for Hearts before his imminent move to Mainz in his native Germany. Ryan Fulton took over Schwolow on 62 minutes.

Stephen Kingsley captained the side as recent recruits MJ Kamson-Kamara, Josh McPake and Thomas Renaud started. Other recent captures Malachi Fagan-Walcott, Sabri Guendouz, Rogers Mato and Calvin Miller came on as second-half substitutes.

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Beau Reus is keen to step up to the "big league" with Hearts after signing a three-year deal at Tynecastle.

The 24-year-old Dutchman has been signed as a free agent, having been with Belgian side Beveren for the past four campaigns.

He says he grew up from a boy to a man in Belgium, but he is excited to take a step up in Gorgie.

"I'm so excited," Reus said. "We took our time, but we made the right decision. I'm so happy to be here.

"We had a great season last year. The last four years were nice, a step up now.

"As a person I came in [at Beveren] like a kid and left as a grown man. Now is the time for the big league, so I want to show myself here.

"The club, you see how big it is, what you guys reached last year is wonderful and I hope we can do the same this year and maybe even better."

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Hearts goalkeeper Liam McFarlane has joined Scottish Championship outfit Partick Thistle on loan for the 2026-27 season.

McFarlane, 21, spent last season on loan with Alloa Athletic and travelled to the World Cup this summer as Scotland's training goalkeeper.

He made 39 appearances for Alloa as they just missed out on promotion to the Championship, losing the play-off final to Stenhousemuir.

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Macaulay Tait is "happy to do the dirty work" for St Johnstone after completing a permanent switch from fellow Scottish Premiership side Hearts.

Tait, 20, came through the Hearts academy and has had two loan spells with Livingston in the past two seasons.

He has signed a two-year deal at McDiarmid Park and says he is in the right place to continue his development.

"I'm really excited to get started and to meet all of the boys properly," he said. "How much the club and the gaffer wanted me was a great start to all of this.

"I felt it was the right place to continue my journey. The club has momentum coming into the top-flight, and it seems a really positive place to be. The boys play good football and I'll just be looking to come in and add to that.

"I have been at Hearts for a while and came through the academy, playing 16 times for the first team. That was nice for myself and my family.

"I took the step on loan to Livingston for the past 18 months and I can't thank them enough for progressing my career. Now I'm looking to make a real impact at Saints.

"I'll be hard-working and run for this team as much as I can. Hopefully I can bring quality on the ball and give the attacking players the service to do their stuff. I'm happy to do the dirty work."

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It was "incredible" how Craig Gordon came back from a double leg break four years ago to make this summer's finals and end his career with Scotland at the World Cup, Rory Loy has stated on the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

Ex-striker Loy suffered the same injury as the former Celtic, Hearts and Sunderland goalkeeper, who announced he is retiring from playing on Thursday.

"I did the same thing, but I did it when I was 20, 23," he said of Gordon, who suffered the injury at the age of 39.

"So it's a different mindset, 23, I suppose. You're still young, you're motivated, your body's young to try and come back from it.

"But to do it at his age, in his late 30s and still manage to come back from it. Trust me, I know how difficult it is to come back from that injury, psychologically, as as well as physically. It's not easy.

"The shin bone just snaps basically. So it needs to heal and then obviously your whole biomechanics, the way you walk, the way you move, the way you do everything, it just changes.

"So I needed orthotics in my shoes basically to change and adapt to the way I now move differently and there's just so many different layers to it.

"For him to go through that that type of thing at the age he was at and still have the motivation to come back and play football just sums up the type of mindset he had.

"But, away from all of that, the level of goalkeeping and saves he had was incredible."

We asked for your thoughts on goalkeeper Craig Gordon announcing his retirement from professional football.

Here's what some of you had to say:

Molly: An amazing career. Hearts through and through. That save against Dundee last year is one of the best saves I think I will ever see. A true leader when he was captain, very grateful to have watched him play for club and country, gave it his all every time.

David: Gordon will fondly be remembered as one of the all-time greats in the history of our club. Not only was he an outstanding goalkeeper but is a really nice person as well. Don't be lost to football altogether Craig.

Madge: Always a class act on and off the pitch, articulate and measured, despite the injuries and across the ages his performances never wavered, reckon he should have played for one of the top English teams but pleased he finished his career at Hearts and wish him nothing but success in the future.

Nick: Legend of a goalkeeper. Worryingly probably still the best we've got despite his ageing years. All the best to him.

Bryan: Without a doubt, Craig is the best Hearts keeper of all time. A brilliant shot stopper and a great servant to Hearts & Scotland.

Alex: I've been lucky to witness some excellent keepers at Tynecastle, but Craig is the best of them all, and the best keeper Scotland has ever had.

Clairee: A true Scottish footballing legend, getting to play for the club you support and your country is the stuff dreams are made of and he did it with class, determination and resilience, a hero for kids to look up to! Look forward to seeing where his next adventure takes him.

Scotland striker Lawrence Shankland has confirmed there was a clause in his Hearts contract that meant, if a potential offer came in from any club, they would work to make it happen and he decided he wanted to join Rangers. (Daily Record, external)

Read Friday's Scottish Gossip in full.

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Craig Gordon's "calmness" was his standout quality during a glittering playing career, says former manager Craig Levein.

The Hearts and Scotland goalkeeping great announced his retirement at the age of 42 on Thursday,

Levein, who managed Gordon during his time as Tynecastle boss, recalls the former Celtic man's cool head, even as a youngster.

He also remembers the high standard of training when Gordon was attempting to break into the Hearts first team, given who he was trying to replace.

"Other than superb ability, his calmness was the thing," Levein told BBC Scotland. "Even as a young lad, making his debut and such.

"If I remember correctly, Antti Niemi was with us at the time when Craig was coming to the fore.

"We had some training games with him in one goal and Antti in the other - 0-0 in a training game is unusual, you know.

"From very early on you could tell he was going to be a top, top player."

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Hearts and Scotland great Craig Gordon has announced his retirement from professional football.

The 43-year-old began his footballing journey when he joined the Tynecastle club's academy in 1999, and what followed was a hugely successful career.

In terms of silverware, Gordon won six Scottish top-flight titles with Celtic as well as five League Cups and three Scottish Cups - the latter a trophy he also lifted with Hearts.

Internationally, the goalkeeper earned 84 caps for the Scottish national team and was part of the squad that took Scotland to their first World Cup in almost 30 years.

As the goalkeeper hangs up his gloves, send us your thoughts on Gordon's career.

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Over the past year, Craig Gordon granted BBC cameras unprecedented access to his life at the age of 42, as he attempted to reach a World Cup.

Along the way, we learned about his miracle saves and comebacks from injuries that should have ended his career, yet which allowed him to continue competing at the top level for so many years.

From a prodigy at Hearts to a record breaker in the Premier League and an invincible at Celtic, Gordon has had a career like no other, but there was one thing missing - being part of a World Cup.

To get there, he had to overcome opposition on the pitch as well as the limitations of his own body as he battled injuries to keep the dream alive.

Watch the Gordon edition of Icons of Football on BBC iPlayer

Watch some of Craig Gordon's best saves for Hearts following the goalkeeper's retirement from playing.

READ MORE: Goalkeeping great Gordon announces retirement

WATCH: Icons of Football - Craig Gordon

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In an emotional video, external posted by Hearts, Craig Gordon shared this message upon his retirement...

"Everyone has dreams. Mine were probably no different to most kids: play for my club and my country. Heart of Midlothian and Scotland.

"Improbable? Perhaps. Impossible? Absolutely not.

"Hard work, sacrifices, setbacks. Step by step, dreams become reality. From supporting Hearts to playing for Hearts.

"Years of hard work can never fully prepare you. You want to do yourself proud, you want to do your family proud, you want to do the fans proud.

"There's nothing better than walking out here at Tynecastle, hearing Gorgie roar and celebrating a victory. I've been fortunate enough to enjoy many of them.

"Some brought Edinburgh bragging rights, some brought trophies, some brought European memories. All of them special because I got to share them with the fans.

"I'm not much of a singer, but I improved a little after 84 renditions of the national anthem. The biggest names, at the biggest stadiums, on the biggest stages - I've savoured every moment of it.

"I've never wanted it to end, but end it must. I have lived my dreams and for that, I'm so thankful.

"Thankful for my team-mates and coaches pushing me all the way. Thankful for my opponents for spurring me on. Thankful for the medical staff who have worked with me throughout the years. Thankful to my loved ones for their support. And thankful to the fans for being behind me for 24 years.

"But now the gloves are finally off, and I bid farewell to my playing career. You, the fans have given me everything, and it has been a privilege to represent you.

"I hope you've enjoyed it as much as I have. From the bottom of my heart, thank you."