Heart of Midlothian remain one of Scottish football’s established clubs: founded in 1874, based at Tynecastle Park, and rarely short of edge when Celtic visit Edinburgh. Their honours record includes a Scottish Cup, while their wider standing is built as much on continuity, support and venue as on recent silverware.
The 2025-26 Premiership season was a strong one. Hearts completed all 38 rounds and finished second, with a sizeable squad of 43 players at an average age of 27. Their squad was valued at around £26.5m by Transfermarkt, placing them among the more substantial domestic opponents Celtic faced.
Tynecastle was the base of their season. Hearts averaged 1.9 goals scored and only 0.6 conceded per home match, a tight defensive return by any Scottish measure. Away from home they still carried a threat, averaging 1.6 goals, though the concession rate rose to 1.2.
Lawrence Shankland led their scoring with 20 goals, followed by Cláudio Braga on 17. Stuart Findlay, Craig Halkett and Alexandros Kyziridis each added six, giving Hearts a spread beyond the obvious attacking names.
Their closing league form showed why they finished high: wins over Falkirk, Rangers, Hibernian and Motherwell sat alongside a draw at Motherwell and a 3-1 defeat to Celtic. Hearts ended the campaign as a credible second-placed side, organised at home and capable enough away to matter in any Celtic fixture.
