2020–21 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season

The 2020–21 season was the 140th season of competitive football by Heart of Midlothian (Hearts), with the team participating in the Scottish Championship. It was the club's first season of play in the second tier of Scottish football since 2015, and only the second since 1983, having been relegated from the Scottish Premiership,^[3] after the previous season was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland.^[4] On 10 April 2021, Hearts earned automatic promotion back to the Scottish Premiership, having been in first place for most of the season.^[5] They also competed in this season's Scottish League Cup and Scottish Cup, losing in the second round of each competition respectively.

Heart of Midlothian

2020–21 season
Chairman	Ann Budge
Manager	Robbie Neilson[1]
Stadium	Tynecastle Park
Championship	1st (promoted)[2]
Scottish Cup	Second round
League Cup	Second round
Top goalscorer	League: Liam Boyce (14) All: Liam Boyce (16)
Home colours Away colours
← 2019–20 2021–22 →

Hearts had reached the semi-finals of the 2019–20 Scottish Cup before the COVID-19 pandemic stopped all football activity in Scotland during the previous season. Their semi-final against Hibs, which was originally due to be played in April, was rescheduled to take place later in the year.^[6] Hearts played the rearranged fixture against Hibs on 31 October, winning 2–1. On 20 December, they lost the 2020 Scottish Cup Final to Celtic in a penalty shootout following a 3–3 draw after extra time.

Results and fixtures

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Pre-season / Friendlies

Heart of Midlothian v Sheffield United

28 August 2020 Friendly	Heart of Midlothian	0–1	Sheffield United	Oriam
		Report	Fleck 7'	Attendance: None[note 1]

St Mirren v Heart of Midlothian

2 September 2020 Friendly	St Mirren	1–2	Heart of Midlothian	St Mirren Park
	McAllister 57'	Report	Roberts 33' Walker 43'	Attendance: None[note 1]

Burnley v Heart of Midlothian

5 September 2020 Friendly	Burnley	4–1	Heart of Midlothian	Barnfield Training Centre
	Rodriguez 5' (pen.) Richardson 18' Thompson 30' Guðmundsson 47'	Report	Wighton 37'	Attendance: None[note 1]

Heart of Midlothian v East Fife

18 September 2020 Friendly	Heart of Midlothian	5–0	East Fife	Tynecastle Park
	Halkett 10' Frear 29' Walker 34' Boyce 46' Hamilton 79'	Report		Attendance: None[note 1]

Heart of Midlothian v Falkirk

22 September 2020 Friendly	Heart of Midlothian	3–0	Falkirk	Oriam
	Boyce 44' Walker 75' Wighton 82 pen.'	Report		Attendance: None[note 1]

Heart of Midlothian v Partick Thistle

26 September 2020 Friendly	Heart of Midlothian	2–0	Partick Thistle	Tynecastle Park
	Walker 10' Halkett 58'	Report		Attendance: None[note 1]

Partick Thistle v Heart of Midlothian

2 October 2020 Friendly	Partick Thistle	0–2	Heart of Midlothian	Firhill Stadium
		Report	Walker 61' Irving 74'	Attendance: None[note 1]

Scottish Championship

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish Championship

Due to COVID-19 restrictions in Scotland forcing an October start to the Scottish Championship season,^[7] the length of the league was reduced from thirty-six to twenty-seven games.^[8] The fixture list for the truncated Championship was announced on 29 July,^[9] starting with a home game against Dundee.

Heart of Midlothian v Dundee

16 October 2020 1	Heart of Midlothian	6–2	Dundee	Tynecastle Park
19:45	Smith 4' Ginnelly 25' Boyce 34' (Penalty) Kingsley 45+2', 84' Halliday 90'	BBC Report	Adam 27' Mullen 68'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Munro

Arbroath v Heart of Midlothian

23 October 2020 2	Arbroath	0–1	Heart of Midlothian	Gayfield Park
19:45		BBC Report	Wighton 70'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Aitken

Heart of Midlothian v ICTFC

7 November 2020 3	Heart of Midlothian	2–1	ICTFC	Tynecastle Park
19:45	Naismith 47' Boyce 70'	BBC Report	Doran 86'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Madden

Dunfermline Athletic v Heart of Midlothian

20 November 2020 4	Dunfermline Athletic	2–1	Heart of Midlothian	East End Park
19:45	Thomas 49' Murray 54'	BBC Report	Kingsley 84'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Robertson

Heart of Midlothian v Alloa Athletic

24 November 2020 5	Heart of Midlothian	3–0	Alloa Athletic	Tynecastle Park
19:45	Smith 6' Halliday 24' Haring 37'	BBC Report		Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Irvine

Greenock Morton v Heart of Midlothian

5 December 2020 6	Greenock Morton	0–2	Heart of Midlothian	Cappielow
15:00		BBC Report	Walker 37', 48'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Aitken

Heart of Midlothian v Queen of the South

12 December 2020 7	Heart of Midlothian	6–1	Queen of the South	Tynecastle Park
15:00	Naismith 20' Boyce 45+1', 46' Walker 76' Frear 82' Ginnelly 90+1'	BBC Report	Obileye 72'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Collum

Heart of Midlothian v Ayr United

26 December 2020 8	Heart of Midlothian	5–3	Ayr United	Tynecastle Park
15:00	Kingsley 11' Wighton 68', 74' Lee 71' Boyce 81'	BBC Report	Smith 57' McCowan 60' Walsh 90+4'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Munro

Heart of Midlothian v Arbroath

29 December 2020 9	Heart of Midlothian	3–1	Arbroath	Tynecastle Park
19:45	Naismith 30', 33', 36' (Penalty)	BBC Report	Doolan 48'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Walsh

Dundee v Heart of Midlothian

2 January 2021 10	Dundee	3–1	Heart of Midlothian	Dens Park
19:20	McGhee 14' Mullen 36' Afolabi 84 pen.'		Irving 56'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Robertson

Alloa Athletic v Heart of Midlothian

16 January 2021 11	Alloa Athletic	1–3	Heart of Midlothian	Stark's Park
15:00	Williamson  84'  Cawley 87'	BBC Report	Irving 35' Frear 45' Ginnelly 90+3'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Muir

Heart of Midlothian v Raith Rovers

23 January 2021 12	Heart of Midlothian	2–3	Raith Rovers	Tynecastle Park
15:00	Boyce 58', 90'	BBC Report	Ugwu 5' Duku 47' (pen.) Tumilty 52'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Beaton

Raith Rovers v Heart of Midlothian

26 January 2021 13	Raith Rovers	0–4	Heart of Midlothian	Stark's Park
19:45			Boyce 36' Henderson 39' Gnanduillet 84', 90'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Anderson

Heart of Midlothian v Dunfermline Athletic

30 January 2021 14	Heart of Midlothian	1–0	Dunfermline Athletic	Tynecastle Park
15:00	Walker 81'	BBC Report		Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Collum

Ayr United v Heart of Midlothian

5 February 2021 15	Ayr United	0–1	Heart of Midlothian	Somerset Park
19:45		BBC Report	Boyce 48' (Penalty)	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: McLean

Queen of the South v Heart of Midlothian

12 February 2021 16	Queen of the South	1–1	Heart of Midlothian	Palmerston Park
19:45	Obileye 43' (pen.)	BBC Report	Boyce 90' (Penalty)	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Steven

Heart of Midlothian v Greenock Morton

20 February 2021 17	Heart of Midlothian	1–1	Greenock Morton	Tynecastle Park
15:00	Walker 71'	BBC Report	McGuffie 53'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Dickinson

ICTFC v Heart of Midlothian

26 February 2021 18	ICTFC	1–1	Heart of Midlothian	Caledonian Stadium
19:45	Storey 10'	BBC Report	Boyce 36'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Walsh

Heart of Midlothian v Dundee

6 March 2021 19	Heart of Midlothian	2–1	Dundee	Tynecastle Park
15:00	Halliday 35' Gnanduillet 58' Haring  90+4'	BBC Report	Cummings 63' (Penalty)	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Robertson

Heart of Midlothian v Ayr United

13 March 2021 20	Heart of Midlothian	2–0	Ayr United	Tynecastle Park
15:00	Gnanduillet 72' Walker 86'	BBC Report		Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Steven

Arbroath v Heart of Midlothian

20 March 2021 21	Arbroath	0–0	Heart of Midlothian	Gayfield Park
15:00		BBC Report		Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Anderson

Heart of Midlothian v Queen of the South

27 March 2021 22	Heart of Midlothian	2–3	Queen of the South	Tynecastle Park
15:00	Popescu 34' Gnanduillet 72'	BBC Report	Shields 2', 22' Irving 82' (Own goal)	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Duncan

Dunfermline Athletic v Heart of Midlothian

3 April 2021 23	Dunfermline Athletic	0–0	Heart of Midlothian	East End Park
15:00		BBC Report		Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Steven

Heart of Midlothian v Alloa Athletic

9 April 2021 24	Heart of Midlothian	6–0	Alloa Athletic	Tynecastle Park
19:45	Boyce 26', 32' (Penalty), 53' Henderson 51' McEneff 71' Walker 88'	BBC Report		Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: McLean

Greenock Morton v Heart of Midlothian

20 April 2021 25	Greenock Morton	0–0	Heart of Midlothian	Cappielow
19:05		BBC Report		Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Beaton

Heart of Midlothian v ICTFC

24 April 2021 26	Heart of Midlothian	3–0	ICTFC	Tynecastle Park
15:00	Mackay-Steven 6', 31' McEneff 9'	BBC Report		Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Madden

Raith Rovers v Heart of Midlothian

30 April 2021 27	Raith Rovers	0–4	Heart of Midlothian	Stark's Park
19:45		BBC Report	Mackay-Steven 11', 73' Henderson 57' Naismith 70'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Munro

Scottish League Cup

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish League Cup

Hearts were drawn into Group A of the League Cup group stage, alongside Cowdenbeath, East Fife Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Raith Rovers.^[10]

Heart of Midlothian v Inverness Caledonian Thistle

6 October 2020 Group stage	Heart of Midlothian	1–0	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	Tynecastle Park
19:45	Walker 62' (pen.)	SPFL Report		Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: McLean

Cowdenbeath v Heart of Midlothian

10 October 2020 Group stage	Cowdenbeath	0–1	Heart of Midlothian	Bayview Stadium
15:00		SPFL Report	Halkett 78'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Newlands

Heart of Midlothian v Raith Rovers

13 October 2020 Group stage	Heart of Midlothian	3–1	Raith Rovers	Tynecastle Park
19:45	Wighton 2' (pen.), 40' (pen.), 87'	SPFL Report	Duku 54'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Napier

East Fife v Heart of Midlothian

10 November 2020 Group stage	East Fife	2–3	Heart of Midlothian	Bayview Stadium
19:45	Hamilton 39' Wallace 64'	BBC Report	Lee 1', 3' Irving 62'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Anderson

Alloa Athletic v Heart of Midlothian

28 November 2020 Second round	Alloa Athletic	1–0 (a.e.t.)	Heart of Midlothian	Recreation Park
15:00	Trouten 109' (Penalty)	BBC Report		Attendance: None[note 1]

Scottish Cup

Main article: 2020–21 Scottish Cup

Brora Rangers v Heart of Midlothian

23 March 2021 Second round	Brora Rangers	2–1	Heart of Midlothian	Dudgeon Park
19:45	MacRae 12' MacLean 75'	BBC Report	Berra 70'	Attendance: None[note 1] Referee: Stuart

First team player statistics

Captains

Steven Naismith continued as captain for the 2020–21 season,^[11] having been appointed to the role during the previous season.^[12]

No	Pos	Country	Name	No of games	Notes
14	FW		Naismith	14	Captain
1	GK		Gordon	11	Vice Captain
5	DF		Haring	1	Vice Captain
6	DF		Berra	4	Vice Captain
26	DF		Halkett	5	Vice Captain

Last updated: 30 April 2021
Source: Competitive match reports.
Competitive matches only
Matches started as captain only
Country: FIFA nationality; No.: Squad number; P: Position; Name: Player name; No. Games: Number of games started as captain.

Squad information

During the 2020–21 campaign, Hearts used thirty-one players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances^{[lower-alpha 1]} and goals^{[lower-alpha 2]} scored by each player.

Last Updated 30 April 2021

Number	Position	Nation	Name	Totals		Championship		League Cup		Scottish Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
1	GK	SCO	Craig Gordon[lower-alpha 3]	31	0	26+0	0	3+0	0	2+0	0
2	DF	NIR	Michael Smith[lower-alpha 3]	28	2	25+0	2	1+0	0	2+0	0
3	DF	IRL	Aidy White[lower-alpha 4]	18	0	3+7	0	5+0	0	2+1	0
4	DF	SCO	John Souttar	4	0	4+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
5	DF	AUT	Peter Haring[lower-alpha 5]	21	1	9+5	1	2+2	0	1+2	0
6	DF	SCO	Christophe Berra[lower-alpha 6]	13	1	9+0	0	2+0	0	2+0	1
7	MF	SCO	Jamie Walker[lower-alpha 3]	27	8	10+10	7	3+1	1	3+0	0
8	MF	ENG	Olly Lee[lower-alpha 4]	17	3	9+1	1	4+1	2	1+1	0
9	FW	CIV	Armand Gnanduillet	14	5	8+5	5	0+0	0	1+0	0
10	FW	NIR	Liam Boyce[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 7]	29	16	24+1	14	1+0	0	2+1	2
11	FW	ENG	Jordan Roberts[lower-alpha 6]	11	0	4+2	0	1+3	0	1+0	0
12	DF	ENG	Shay Logan	5	0	5+0	0	0+0	0	0+0	0
13	GK	SCO	Ross Stewart	4	0	1+0	0	2+0	0	1+0	0
14	FW	SCO	Steven Naismith[lower-alpha 4]	26	6	11+9	6	2+2	0	1+1	0
15	FW	SCO	Craig Wighton[lower-alpha 4][lower-alpha 8]	15	7	5+3	3	3+2	3	1+1	1
16	MF	SCO	Andy Halliday[lower-alpha 3]	30	3	24+2	3	1+1	0	2+0	0
17	MF	SCO	Gary Mackay-Steven	18	4	14+3	4	0	0	1+0	0
18	MF	IRL	Aaron McEneff	14	2	11+2	2	0+0	0	1+0	0
19	MF	SCO	Andy Irving[lower-alpha 4]	29	3	16+7	2	2+1	1	2+1	0
20	MF	SCO	Harry Cochrane	1	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
21	DF	SCO	Stephen Kingsley[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 8]	26	5	20+0	4	2+2	0	2+0	1
24	MF	ENG	Elliott Frear[lower-alpha 9]	12	2	5+3	2	2+1	0	0+1	0
25	MF	SCO	Jamie Brandon	5	0	1+0	0	4+0	0	0+0	0
26	DF	SCO	Craig Halkett[lower-alpha 3]	32	1	27+0	0	2+0	1	3+0	0
27	MF	SCO	Lewis Moore	1	0	0+0	0	1+0	0	0+0	0
28	DF	ROU	Mihai Popescu[lower-alpha 6]	24	1	14+4	1	4+1	0	1+0	0
29	MF	CUW	Gervane Kastaneer	7	0	3+3	0	0+0	0	1+0	0
30	MF	ENG	Josh Ginnelly[lower-alpha 9][lower-alpha 8]	10	4	3+3	3	2+1	0	0+1	1
31	FW	SCO	Euan Henderson[lower-alpha 9]	15	3	6+3	3	2+2	0	0+2	0
36	MF	SCO	Scott McGill	4	0	0+1	0	3+0	0	0+0	0
54	MF	SCO	Finlay Pollock	2	0	0+2	0	0+0	0	0+0	0

• Last updated: 30 April 2021
• Source: Match Reports^[13][14]
• Ordered by Squad Number.

Appearances (starts and substitute appearances) and goals include those in the Scottish Championship, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.

Disciplinary record

During the 2020–21 season, Hearts players were issued forty-five yellow cards^{[lower-alpha 10]} and one red. The table below shows the number of cards and type shown to each player.

Last updated 30 April 2021

Number	Position	Nation	Name	Championship		League Cup		Scottish Cup		Total
1	GK		Craig Gordon	2	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 11]	0	3[lower-alpha 11]	0
2	DF		Michael Smith	2	0	0	0	2[lower-alpha 12]	0	4[lower-alpha 12]	0
3	DF		Aidy White	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
4	DF		John Souttar	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
5	DF		Peter Haring	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	1
6	DF		Christophe Berra	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
7	MF		Jamie Walker	4	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 11]	0	5[lower-alpha 11]	0
8	MF		Olly Lee	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
9	FW		Armand Gnanduillet	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
10	FW		Liam Boyce	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
11	FW		Jordan Roberts	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
12	DF		Shay Logan	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
13	GK		Ross Stewart	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
14	FW		Steven Naismith	2	0	1	0	1[lower-alpha 11]	0	4[lower-alpha 11]	0
15	FW		Craig Wighton	1	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 11]	0	2[lower-alpha 11]	0
16	MF		Andy Halliday	4	0	0	0	2[lower-alpha 12]	0	6[lower-alpha 12]	0
17	MF		Gary Mackay-Steven	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
19	MF		Andy Irving	4	0	0	0	1	0	5	0
20	MF		Harry Cochrane	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
21	FW		Stephen Kingsley	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
22	MF		Loïc Damour	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
23	GK		Zdeněk Zlámal	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
24	MF		Elliott Frear	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
25	MF		Jamie Brandon	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
26	DF		Craig Halkett	3	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 11]	0	3[lower-alpha 11]	0
27	MF		Lewis Moore	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
28	DF		Mihai Popescu	0	0	0	0	1[lower-alpha 11]	0	1[lower-alpha 11]	0
29	MF		Gervane Kastaneer	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
30	MF		Josh Ginnelly	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
31	FW		Euan Henderson	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
36	MF		Scott McGill	0	0	1	0	0	0	1	0
54	MF		Finlay Pollock	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
Total				32	1	5	0	12[lower-alpha 10]	0	45[lower-alpha 10]	1

Goal scorers

Last updated 30 April 2021

Place	Position	Nation	Name	Championship	League Cup	Scottish Cup	Total
1	FW		Liam Boyce	14	0	2[lower-alpha 7]	16[lower-alpha 7]
2	MF		Jamie Walker	7	1	0	8
3	FW		Craig Wighton	3	3	1[lower-alpha 8]	7[lower-alpha 8]
4	FW		Steven Naismith	6	0	0	6
5	DF		Stephen Kingsley	4	0	1[lower-alpha 8]	5[lower-alpha 8]
	FW		Armand Gnanduillet	5	0	0	5
6	MF		Josh Ginnelly	3	0	1[lower-alpha 8]	4[lower-alpha 8]
	MF		Gary Mackay-Steven	4	0	0	4
7	MF		Olly Lee	1	2	0	3
	MF		Andy Halliday	3	0	0	3
	FW		Euan Henderson	3	0	0	3
8	DF		Michael Smith	2	0	0	2
	MF		Andy Irving	2	1	0	2
	MF		Elliott Frear	2	0	0	2
	MF		Aaron McEneff	2	0	0	2
9	DF		Peter Haring	1	0	0	1
	DF		Craig Halkett	0	1	0	1
	DF		Christophe Berra	0	0	1	1
	DF		Mihai Popescu	1	0	0	1
Total				63	8	6[lower-alpha 2]	74[lower-alpha 2]

Clean sheets

R	Pos	Nat	Name	Championship	League Cup	Scottish Cup	Total
1	GK		Craig Gordon	13	2	0	15
2	GK		Ross Stewart	0	0	0	0
Total				13	2	0	15

Last updated: 30 April 2021
Source: Match reports in Competitive matches

Team statistics

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Promotion, qualification or relegation
1	Heart of Midlothian (C, P)	27	17	6	4	63	24	+39	57	Promotion to the Premiership
2	Dundee (O, P)	27	12	9	6	49	40	+9	45	Qualification for the Premiership play-off semi-final
3	Raith Rovers	27	12	7	8	45	36	+9	43	Qualification for the Premiership play-off quarter-final
4	Dunfermline Athletic	27	10	9	8	38	34	+4	39
5	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	27	8	12	7	36	31	+5	36

Source: SPFL
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Head-to-to head points; 5) Head-to-head goal difference; 6) Play-off (only for deciding promotion, play-off participation and relegation).^[15]
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

League Cup table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	PW	PL	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification		HOM	RAI	ICT	EFI	COW
1	Heart of Midlothian	4	4	0	0	0	8	3	+5	12	Qualification for the Second round		—	3–1	1–0	—	—
2	Raith Rovers	4	2	1	0	1	7	7	0	8			—	—	p3–3	2–1	—
3	Inverness Caledonian Thistle	4	1	1	1	1	4	4	0	6			—	—	—	1–0	p0–0
4	East Fife	4	1	0	0	3	5	6	−1	3			2–3	—	—	—	2–0
5	Cowdenbeath	4	0	0	1	3	0	4	−4	1			0–1	0–1	—	—	—

Source: ^[16]
Rules for classification: 1) points, 2) goal difference, 3) goals scored, 4) away goals scored, 5) matches won, 6) away matches won, 7) drawing of lots.^[17]

Division summary

Round	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	20	21	22	23	24	25	26	27
Ground	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	H	H	A	A	H	A	H	A	A	H	A	H	H	A	H	A	H	A	H	A
Result	W	W	W	L	W	W	W	W	W	L	W	L	W	W	W	D	D	D	W	W	D	L	D	W	D	W	W
Position	1	1	3	3	2	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1

Updated to match(es) played on 30 April 2021. Source: ^{[citation needed]}
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Management statistics

Last updated on 30 April 2021

Name	From	To	P	W	D	L	Win%[nb 1]
Robbie Neilson[lower-alpha 13]	6 October 2020	Present	35	22	7	6	062.86

Club

Staff

Club staff Name Role Robbie Neilson Manager[18] Gordon Forrest Lee McCulloch First Team Assistant Manager[19] Andy Kirk Hearts Women and Academy Manager[20] Karen Gibson Club Medic[18]

Boardroom Name Role[21] Ann Budge Executive chairwoman[21] Andrew McKinlay CEO[22][21] Jacqui Duncan Finance Director[21] Stuart Wallace Foundation of Hearts Chairman[21] Eric Hogg Non-Executive Director[21] Donald Cumming Non-Executive Director[21] Kevin Windram Non-Executive Director[21]

Deaths

The following players and people associated with the club died over the course of the season. Former captain Jim Townsend,^[23] 2012 Scottish Cup winning captain Marius Zaliukas^[24] and former coach Walter Borthwick.^[25]

Management

Following football being suspended indefinitely during the previous season due to the COVID-19 pandemic,^[26] Manager Daniel Stendel advised the club he would not take any wages during the closed period and returned to Germany.^[27] Stendel's contract included a clause which rendered him a free agent should the club be relegated.^[28]

Following the vote to end the 2019–20 season and Hearts being relegated on an average points basis,^[29] Stendel's contract was ended, rendering him a Free Agent.^[30] Despite Stendel indicating he wished to negotiate a new contract,^[30] on 21 June 2020, Hearts appointed Dundee United Manager Robbie Neilson,^[31] He had previously managed Hearts between 2014 and 2016^[32] and was awarded a three-year contract.^[1] Stendel's assistants Jorg Sievers and Dale Tonge also departed the club.^[33] On 12 August 2020, Neilson's former United assistants Gordon Forrest and Lee McCulloch were appointed as First Team Assistant Managers. They joined on a three-year deal.^[34]

International selection

Over the course of the season a number of the Hearts squad were called up on international duty. Craig Gordon^[35] was called up to represent Scotland while Michael Smith and Liam Boyce were selected to represent Northern Ireland.^[36]

Awards

SPFL awards Name Award Robbie Neilson Scottish Championship Manager of the Month December 2020[37] Robbie Neilson Scottish Championship Manager of the Month April 2021[38]

PFA awards Name Award Liam Boyce PFA Scotland Championship Player of the Year[39] Craig Gordon PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year[40] Michael Smith PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year[40] Andy Irving PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year[40] Liam Boyce PFA Scotland Championship Team of the Year[40]

Transfers

Players in Player From Fee Craig Gordon Celtic Free[41] Jordan Roberts Ipswich Town Free[42] Elliott Frear Forest Green Rovers Free[43] Mihai Popescu Dinamo București Free[44] Andy Halliday Rangers Free[45] Stephen Kingsley Hull City Free[46] Gary Mackay-Steven New York City Free[47] Armand Gnanduillet Altay Free[48] Aaron McEneff Shamrock Rovers £175,000[49]

Players out Player To Fee Clevid Dikamona Kilmarnock[50] Free[51] Donis Avdijaj FC Emmen Free[51] Daniel Baur Spartans[52] Free[51] Oliver Bozanic Central Coast Mariners[53] Free[51] Rory Currie Brechin City[54] Free[51] Marcel Langer Free[51] Steven MacLean Retired[51][55] Kelby Mason Edinburgh City[56] Free[51] Alex Petkov Levski Sofia Free[51] Dean Ritchie Airdrieonians[57] Free[51] Jay Nwanze Wexford Free[58] Brodie Strang Free[51] Bobby Burns Barrow Free[59] Sean Clare Oxford United Undisclosed[60] Callumn Morrison Falkirk Free[61] Conor Washington Charlton Athletic Undisclosed[62] Uche Ikpeazu Wycombe Wanderers Undisclosed[63] Aaron Hickey Bologna £1,500,000[64] Anthony McDonald Córdoba Free[65] Ben Garuccio Melbourne City Free[66]

Loans in Player From Fee Ross Stewart Livingston Loan[67] Josh Ginnelly Preston North End Loan[68] Gervane Kastaneer Coventry City Loan[69] Shay Logan Aberdeen Loan[70]

Loans out Player From Fee Colin Doyle Kilmarnock Loan[71] Zdeněk Zlámal St Mirren Loan[nb 2] Leeroy Makovora Brechin City Loan[73] Chris Hamilton Dumbarton Loan[74] Connor Smith Arbroath Loan[74] Harry Stone Stirling Albion Loan[nb 3] Harry Cochrane Montrose Loan[76] Harry Stone Spartans Loan[nb 4] Leeroy Makovora Gala Fairydean Rovers Loan Olly Lee Gillingham Loan[78] Jordan Roberts Motherwell Loan[79] Lewis Moore Arbroath Loan[80] Craig Wighton Dunfermline Athletic Loan[81] Harry Stone Albion Rovers Loan[82] Zdeněk Zlámal St Johnstone Loan[83]

See also

• List of Heart of Midlothian F.C. seasons

Notes

1. Attendance restricted due to COVID-19 restrictions.

1. Win% is the percentage of matches won rounded to two decimal places.
2. Emergency Seven Day Loan.^[72]
3. Emergency Loan.^[75] name="note3"
4. Returned from Emergency loan at Stirling Albion, before being loaned out for a second time.^[77]

1. Includes a total of 22 starting appearances and 10 substitute appearances by players in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches, as specified (these are recorded under the 2019–20 season in some statistical resources).
2. Includes a total of 5 goals scored by players in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches, as specified (these are recorded under the 2019–20 season in some statistical resources).
3. Includes two starting appearances in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
4. Includes one starting appearance and one substitute appearance in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
5. Includes two substitute appearances in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
6. Includes one starting appearance in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
7. Includes two goals scored in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
8. Includes one goal scored in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
9. Includes one substitute appearance in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
10. Includes a total of ten yellow cards issued to players in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches (these statistics are recorded under the 2019–20 season in some resources).
11. Includes one yellow card issued in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
12. Includes two yellow cards issued in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup matches.
13. Includes two matches (one win, one draw followed by a lost penalty shootout) in the delayed 2019–20 Scottish Cup (these statistics are recorded under the 2019–20 season in some resources).

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