Wouter Vrancken's Hearts plan and the details involved as excitement builds for chaotic football at Tynecastle

The Groenmarkt in the centre of Sint-Truiden partied hard exactly a month ago as Wouter Vrancken led a historic celebration. The city’s football team, Sint-Truidense Voetbalvereniging, finished third in Belgium’s Jupiler Pro League to secure a European spot with their highest placing for 60 years. Locals hailed Vrancken, Sint-Truiden born and bred, as a bona fide local hero while he officially said goodbye.

The shindig was loud, boisterous and full of excitement; organised bedlam on the ancient city streets. In some ways, it was a metaphor for the organised bedlam Vrancken’s teams create on a football pitch. The man poised to take charge of Hearts is known for an intense style of play which should be ideal at Tynecastle Park. Twice named Coach of the Year in Belgium, he left Sint-Truiden after transforming them from relegation battlers to Europa League qualifiers in 12 months. Overachievement is one of his specialities.

Vrancken, 47, now plans to test that special skill in Scotland. He won the Belgian Cup with second-division Mechelen in 2019. He guided them to promotion the same year and then finished in the top eight of the Pro League for the next three seasons. He moved to Genk and was seconds away from winning the title until Toby Alderweireld struck a 94th-minute equaliser against Vrancken’s side on the final day of the season, earning Royal Antwerp their first league success in 66 years. He took charge of Sint-Truiden last April, kept them up by winning a relegation play-off and then qualified them for Europe.

Hearts fans should anticipate a stimulating season ahead if Vrancken, as expected, agrees terms to succeed Derek McInnes. The Belgian’s football appeals to supporters due to its attacking emphasis, high energy and direct style. There are plenty passes, quick movement in the final third, wide play and crosses. He favours a 4-2-3-1 formation which can easily flip to 4-4-2, and demands that his team control the ball and stay on the offensive.

Attacking players are instructed to interchange and rotate with each other, with wingers drifting inside to encourage overlapping full-backs. Vrancken likes centre-backs and holding midfielders to distribute the ball forward at a tempo to initiate attacks. He does not like overplaying. Instead, his teams stick to one, two or three touches to move the ball around speedily, creating space and unsettling opposing defenders.

Vrancken wants to bring all of that to Tynecastle, believing it is a perfect style for Scottish football. He left Sint-Truiden eager for an opportunity abroad. Following reported interest from Anderlecht, Burnley and Lorient, plus Bulgarian side Ludogorets, he now has the chance to manage Hearts. Many of his teams have attacked primarily down the left flank but that is not a specific tactic and depends on the personnel available.

Hearts have a strong left side, where Harry Milne’s rampaging from defence was a huge attacking threat this season allied to the Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis. Vrancken will have plenty wide men to choose from at Tynecastle after Josh McPake and Calvin Miller arrived to complement Kyziridis, Sabah Kerjota and Rogers Mato. Islam Chesnokov is set to leave. Out of possession, Vrancken’s Hearts team will press opponents aggressively. Wingers drop back without the ball to make the side harder to break down.

There is heavy attention to detail from a man who began coaching in his early 30s as a favour to a friend after his own playing career was cut short through injury. Vrancken was working in accountancy at the time. Manager of the Year awards were never on the agenda. “It all started as a hobby that got out of hand. If someone had told me this when I was coaching in the Fourth Provincial League, I would have thought they were crazy. I have to pinch myself,” he said.

He doesn’t suffer fools gladly and isn’t slow to move on if he feels it is right. “Balance is important in my life,” he said. “That is why I value family so much. And if the football world no longer needs me, I will find something else. Fear is a bad advisor. Even as a coach, you shouldn't make decisions out of fear of losing your job. I don't look too far ahead; you have no control over that anyway. I stand for something, and I want to do everything for it. Changing a system or principles out of doubt creates doubt among players as well.

“Look, of course I am nothing without my players and staff. But ultimately, your family provides balance - that is why this trophy is going on the mantelpiece at home,” he said after winning Coach of the Year in 2022. “They ensure that I can switch off the 'football button' at home. A nature walk now and then, romping around with the 'little ones'. I cannot perform without them. I really owe this prize to them.”

He transformed Genk into the best footballing team in Belgium despite losing some key players. Nigerian international striker Paul Onuachu, Belgium’s Footballer of the Year in 2021, labels Vrancken “the best coach I have ever worked with”. He has made a name across his homeland for sparkling, attacking football. This has led to more and more interest from abroad. The high attacking output of his teams keeps supporters engaged and the penchant for one and two-touch play sounds as good as it looks when executed properly.

There are positional overloads to hem opponents in and prevent them escaping from their own defensive zone. Some sideways passing is to be expected because not every ball can go forward. However, that is merely the means to an end in an effort to move opponents out of position and open up space higher up the pitch. Energy is the vital ingredient.

The negative to all of this hustle and bustle is that it can lead to burnout because it is so relentless. The intense workload can sap players’ energy. Hearts will have a busy schedule over the coming months with European ties, the Scottish League Cup and the Premiership to contend with. Then the Scottish Cup starts in January. Vrancken must familiarise himself with the league, its venues, different teams and managers. He will also need to utilise his squad wisely to maintain the chaotic approach.

If his style is deemed high-risk, his CV mitigates the risk for Hearts. Wouter Vrancken is a proven football coach who knows what he wants and how to get it. Hearts lost the Scottish league title on the final day of the season last month, leaving supporters and players devastated. Vrancken is the man tasked with rebuilding and transforming the team from nearly men to winners. Evidence shows he is quite good at it. After that Groenmarkt party in Sint-Truiden last month, he is aiming for another celebration on the ancient cobbled streets of Edinburgh next season.