Scottish football manager; current Aberdeen boss amid transfer news.
Hearts has been drawn to face Sturm Graz in the Champions League second qualifying round. The Jambos are searching for a new manager after Derek McInnes departs for Rangers, with the tie taking place in Graz and Tynecastle in July. In other moves, Eddie May departs Hibernian after 12 years, and Calem Nieuwenhof heads to Perth Glory on loan. The schedule also confirms dates for the first and second qualifying rounds across European competition.
Rangers will warm up for their first competitive match under Derek McInnes with a friendly against West Ham United at Ibrox on July 26. The game is part of a busy pre-season schedule that also includes an Austrian training camp before the Europa League third qualifying round.
Rangers focus on strengthening ahead of the new season as multiple targets are linked. John Souttar and Danilo remain in transfer talks, while clubs in Scotland, England and abroad monitor a range of players from the Ibrox squad.
Rangers are targeting Vanja Dragojevic from Partizan Belgrade for around £4m, with Tromso’s Jens Hjerto-Dahl also on the radar, as Derek McInnes builds a more rounded squad ahead of the new season. Aberdeen sign Marius Muller and Celtic eye new winger targets while Celtic, Hearts, and Dundee United plan their next moves.
The independent review into March’s Old Firm clash has highlighted near-misses, planning failures, and a call for stronger sanctions and accountability for clubs. Hearings are set for August 13 as the SFA publishes its findings.
Hearts trail 4-0 after the first leg in Austria but have moved to strengthen their squad as they bid to overturn the deficit in the second leg. Keeper Schwolow is departing for Mainz while new signings prepare for their Tynecastle bow.
Rangers draw 1-1 away at Dundee United as new manager Derek McInnes watches from the touchline. Lachlan Rose gives United the lead; Thelo Aasgaard equalises after the break. Debutants and fresh signings feature, but no winner is found.
Rangers have secured the signing of 26-year-old Japanese winger Daisuke Yokota on a three-year deal with an option for a fourth. The move strengthens Rangers’ attacking options ahead of their Europa League third qualifying round match against Jagellonia, with Yokota registered in time for the tie.
Bruno Fernandes and co. see off Leeds United in a shootout after a 1-1 draw in the first Gaelic Games stadium game since 2009. The match ends amid fan invasions and a late crossbar hit as Mazraoui secures the win in the shootout.
Benfica leads 6-0 at half-time, extending to a 6-1 final in the first leg, as Hearts are overwhelmed in Lisbon. Benfica dominates with early goals and set-pieces, leaving Hearts facing an uphill second leg in Edinburgh. Vrancken laments poor defending and calls for composure in the return.
Benfica have overwhelmed Hearts 6-1 in Lisbon, but Hearts forward momentum is the focus as the tie ends 7-2 on aggregate. The Edinburgh side now faces a Conference League route via Rapid Vienna while Benfica progress in Europe.
Kyziridis has left Hearts for a Turkish club after 42 appearances, six goals and 11 assists last season. The transfer, pegged at around £1.7m, is being finalised as Hearts cashes in on a homegrown talent who arrived on a free last summer.
Rangers have struggled at the start of the Derek McInnes era, with mixed results in domestic and European fixtures. The team is chasing improvement after a difficult run that has left them trailing Celtic in the league and facing a pivotal return leg in Europe.
Celtic has moved ahead in their Champions League play-off after a 3-0 first leg in Glasgow, with Nygren and Durán scoring and Duran adding a third. LASK created chances; Celtic are in a strong position for the return leg in Linz.
Scotland has named Sebastien Pocognoli as its new head coach, succeeding Steve Clarke. Pocognoli, a 39-year-old former Belgium international, has led Union Saint-Gilloise to a Belgian title and most recently managed Monaco. His appointment signals a shift to a front-foot, high-press style and aims to build on Clarke’s foundations.
The Scottish FA has identified the Belgian coach, Pocognoli, as the preferred choice to replace Derek McInnes as Scotland manager. Pocognoli guided Union Saint-Gilloise to a historic Belgian title in 2024-25, and is seen as the first foreign boss for Scotland since Vogts. Clarke has stepped down after Scotland’s World Cup group exit.
James Penrice has joined Rangers on loan from AEK Athens after playing for Hearts last season, with Tuur Rommens sidelined. He debuts for the Ibrox club against St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup, providing competition on the left and a potential boost for manager Derek McInnes.
Rangers have taken a narrow lead in their Conference League qualifier after Ryan Naderi scored in the 50th minute, with Cammy Devlin sent off late on for a reckless challenge. The tie now moves to the Czech Republic for the return leg, where Rangers will aim to seal progress.