Hearts unveil new coach as Wouter Vrancken's backroom strengthened by specialist with 'vast experience'
Hearts have added the former Rangers and Swansea City figure to Wouter Vrancken’s backroom.
Hearts have unveiled their new set-piece coach after Ross Grant’s departure to Celtic.
Liam Ross will move into new head coach Wouter Vrancken’s backroom team following a coaching role at English Championship side Southampton. Ross started out running sessions at Box Soccer Training and academy coaching with Dundee United. He moved to Swansea City and then Rangers alongside work as Scotland U21s coach.
He has most recently been with Southampton and returns to Scotland to begin his new role next week. Hearts were one of the most dangerous teams from set pieces with Grant, who joined the Premiership club last summer from Dundee United, and Ross will take up his mantle after he joined Celtic last month.
Who is Hearts’ set-piece coach?
A statement from Hearts reads: “Heart of Midlothian is pleased to confirm that Liam Ross will join the club as its new Set Plays Coach. Liam, who has vast experience both sides of the border in on-pitch delivery, will take up his new position on July 20th when he leaves his current role as Southampton’s Individual Development Coach.
“He began his professional coaching journey with Dundee United, coaching in their academy before coming an Individual Development Coach Analyst then United’s Head of Technical Performance. In 2023 Liam moved South to spend 18-months at Swansea City as an Assistant Coach and Analyst.
“He moved back north to become a Professional Development Phase Coach at Rangers, working with the U19s and B Team, while also assisting Scotland U21s in their European Qualifiers. The start of this year saw him take up his position with Southampton, and Liam joins the Jambos’ as part of Wouter Vrancken’s first-team coaching staff ahead of a blockbuster domestic and European campaign.”
Why did Hearts want a set-piece coach
Vrancken has brought two of his compatriots, Tim Smolders and Cederique Tulleners, with him to Hearts but neither are dedicated set-piece specialists. Responsibilities were being shared between the coaching staff throughout pre-season so far but that will now change ahead of competitive action beginning against Sturm Graz away from home in the first leg of their Champions League second round qualifier next week.
The Belgian said: “For now, we are managing it in the staff, of course. We have Tim, as an assistant, who did it in the past with Union [Saint-Gilloise]. We are now also talking with Graeme Jones (sporting director) to try to replace him and what fits best. You don't have to replace somebody to replace it. It has to be quality, of course.
“You have to trust him and he has the expertise to do it very good. It's also a very important part of football these days. So, 30 per cent of goals or something like this are scored by a set-piece. It's important. So, we are just talking and seeing some profiles and considering some profiles. In the meantime, we manage with the staff.”