Derek McInnes, Hearts’ 54-year-old manager, has moved his team to the top of the Scottish Premiership. And with an unbeaten record maintained in the league this season, he’s already managed to steer the Jam Tarts to a two-point advantage over Celtic. But lately, McInnes has been making headlines of the more positive sort with his managerial wizardry. There are even rumors floating around of him replacing van Bronckhorst as the manager at Scottish giants Rangers.
McInnes, recently recipient of consecutive Premiership Manager of the Month awards, has already completed an impressive body of work in his league tenure. Just a couple of years into his time at Kilmarnock, he’d turned the club’s fortunes completely around. He guided them from the Championship to the very fringes of European football. Just ask his successful, no-nonsense track record of winning. Many now consider him a low-risk appointment for any Premier League club searching for a new permanent manager. While all this may point towards Rangers, McInnes is concentrating on the job at hand.
“For us, my job here is firmly at Hearts. I’m really enjoying it here. I’ve wanted to be here for a long time.” – Derek McInnes
Meanwhile, Hearts’ historic, record-breaking start to the season has set a new precedent for expectations. Tack on the preseason declarations by McInnes that his team should be better this season than last and you can understand the urgency. The team finished impressively, including an unforgettable win against Rangers at Ibrox earlier this season—our first win there in a decade. This stunning outcome served to further canonize McInnes’s reputation.
Kris Boyd, a former professional footballer, commented on McInnes’s managerial style, stating, “Every appointment’s a risk. There are appointments that are less of a risk and that’s why I keep going back to Derek McInnes.” Boyd’s comments give voice to a growing sentiment among fans and pundits. They view McInnes as an ideal fit for Rangers, should the club decide to take action on Pedro Caixinha.
There’s no respite for Hearts as they host Celtic in next month’s most highly-anticipated match, which will be shown live on Sky Sports. This clash presents another opportunity for McInnes to showcase his tactical abilities and solidify Hearts’ position at the top of the league.
As he continues to lead Hearts with determination and skill, McInnes remains committed to his current project.
“Anything we get we’ve worked really hard for. We’re going to have to continue to work hard to bring any sort of success here.” – Derek McInnes
Leave a Reply