Heart of Midlothian, or Hearts as they are colloquially known, have been a fixture of the Scottish football arena since their establishment in 1874. Their stomping ground, the traditional Tynecastle Park, has witnessed many memorable battles.
From a fiscal perspective, the Hearts squad has a total market worth of approximately £17m according to the estimations of Transfermarkt, an internationally recognised football analyst.
To the layman, Hearts may seem an army amassed in numbers, fielding a congregation of 34 players. Their average age is a robust 26, an eloquent testament to their blend of youth and experience.
Hearts find themselves embroiled in five different competitions this season. In the Premiership, they presently languish in 7th place, a position that hardly reflects their ambition. More encouraging performance has been evidenced in the League Cup where they progressed to the Second Round. Furthermore, they marched with dignity to the Fifth Round of the Scottish Cup. Despite their valiant efforts, they found themselves shackled to the play-off stage in the Europa League qualifiers and are currently paddling through the turbulent waters of the League Phase in the Conference League.