(foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Hearts lead the Scottish title race using data-driven recruitment. Backed by analytics, the Edinburgh club is close to breaking Celtic and Rangers’ long-standing dominance.
Heart of Midlothian is the biggest surprise of the season in Scotland. In a league where it has long seemed impossible to break the dominance of Celtic and Rangers, the Edinburgh club now leads the title race—and it is doing it differently.
The Scottish league is the second oldest in the world after the English one, as the first season was played back in 1890/91. Despite its 136-year history, only a few clubs have won the championship. The Glasgow giants Celtic and Rangers have shared 110 titles, winning 55 each. Third place is shared by Aberdeen, Hearts, and Hibernian, all with four titles. The last champion outside the “Old Firm” duo came in 1985, when the legendary Alex Ferguson led Aberdeen to the title.
The iconic Edinburgh club Heart of Midlothian, named after a novel by Sir Walter Scott, last won the championship in the 1959/60 season, 66 years ago. This season, however, Hearts could finally end the long-standing dominance of the Glasgow giants. As the championship enters its decisive phase, The Jam Tarts are in first place, one point ahead of Rangers and three ahead of Celtic.
How is that possible?
Last season, Hearts finished only seventh, 40 points behind champions Celtic and 23 behind Rangers, with city rivals Hibernian finishing above them. The turnaround began in late 2023, when Tony Bloom, owner of Brighton, contacted Hearts director James Anderson.
Anderson is an investor who has put significant money into the club, although the majority ownership remains with the supporters’ group Foundation of Hearts. At their first serious meeting in early 2024, Bloom proposed cooperation, which truly began in the summer of 2025.
This was not about massive spending. Bloom acquired 29% of the club for £10 million, without taking control of daily operations. The key value of the partnership lies elsewhere—analytics.
Through this collaboration, Hearts gained access to the data tool Jamestown Analytics, linked to Bloom’s network and company Starlizard.
“I found that our traditional recruitment methods were not working,” said Anderson. “I believed in data even before we met. It is strange that these modern methods are not used in Scotland. No one should underestimate the scale of knowledge required.”
The results of this approach are clear.
Using analytics, Hearts targeted players from markets overlooked by British clubs and signed them for relatively small amounts:
- Claudio Braga, who has scored 12 goals, arrived from Aalesunds for just over €500,000
- Alexandros Kyziridis came from Michalovce on a free transfer and has been one of the standout performers
- Oisin McEntee joined from Walsall, also without a transfer fee
In the January transfer window, Hearts continued to explore less traditional markets:
- Rogers Mato from Vardar
- Islam Chesnokov from Tobol Kostanay
- Kenneth Vargas from Herediano
The only more expensive signing was Jordi Altena, who joined from Waalwijk for around €1.2 million.
On the pitch, everything came together.
Coach Derek McInnes managed to turn this diverse group into a cohesive and disciplined team. He built strong chemistry, clear structure, and a collective identity that compensates for the lack of global stars.
Even before the season, Bloom predicted Hearts could fight for the title. At the time, it sounded unrealistic. Now, it looks accurate.
The final challenge lies ahead.
The championship will be decided in the play-offs, where Celtic and Rangers will apply maximum pressure. If Hearts manage to hold their position, they will write history as the club that finally ended the Old Firm duopoly after four decades.
And they will do it with a modest financial investment, but with a clear vision, analytical approach, and smart recruitment strategy.
In a league where money usually decides everything, Hearts have shown that data can change the story.