RANGERS are in Scottish Premiership action against Hearts at Ibrox and you can find out more about the opposition with our focus here.
Formed: 1874
Nickname: Hearts or The Jam Tarts
Stadium: Tynecastle Park
Stadium Capacity: 19,852
Head Coach: Steven Naismith
Major Honours: Scottish Football League (now Scottish Premiership) champions: 1894/95, 1896/97, 1957/58, 1959/60 . Scottish Cup winners: 1890/91, 1895/96, 1900/01, 1905/06, 1955/56, 1997/98, 2005/06, 2011/12 , Scottish League Cup winners: 1954/55, 1958/59, 1959/60, 1962/63
HEAD COACH
Former Rangers player Steven Naismith is enjoying a memorable first season as a manager, with Heart of Midlothian the closest challengers to the Old Firm at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
A run of three consecutive wins in November 2023 saw Naismith named Scottish Premiership Manager of the Month. The Jambos travel to Ibrox today looking to extend an impressive 12-match unbeaten run in all competitions which started with a 2-0 away win over Celtic on December 16. The run has included 11 victories and a single draw at home to Ross County on December 30.
CLUB CAPTAIN
Club captain Craig Gordon made his long-awaited return to action in a behind closed doors friendly match against Spartans at Tynecastle back in October 2023.
This came some 292 days after the goalkeeper suffered a horrific double leg break during the Jambos’ 2-2 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice on Christmas Eve 2022. Gordon’s first taste of competitive football also came against Spartans, with the 41-year-old starting in Hearts’ 2-1 Scottish Cup victory at Ainslie Park back on January 20.
NEW ARRIVAL
Jamaica international Dexter Lembikisa joined Hearts on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers for the remainder of the campaign in January.
The South Gloucestershire-born defender, who spent the first half of this season on loan at Rotherham United, scored on his Hearts debut in a 3-2 win over Dundee on January 23. Having joined Wolves’ academy at the age of 13, the right-back made his professional bow in the West Midlanders’ 1-0 win over Leeds United in the EFL Cup in November 2022. He has been capped seven times by Jamaica to date.
ONE TO WATCH
Lawrence Shankland has been in fine goalscoring form since his return to Scottish football from Belgian side Beerschot in the summer of 2022.
His double in a 4-1 Scottish Cup fifth round win over Airdrieonians took his goals tally to 24 in 33 appearances in all competitions. This on the back of a fine debut season in maroon and white in 2022/23 in which he netted 28 times in 47 matches.
It saw him become the first Hearts player since John Robertson in the 1991/92 season, to score 20 goals in all competitions for the club in a single campaign.
RISING STAR
Currently on a season-long loan with Hearts from C.S. Herediano in his native Costa Rica, Kenneth Vargas has been a regular in Steven Naismith’s team this season.
The 21-year-old winger, who made his senior international debut for Costa Rica against the United Arab Emirates on 12 September 2023, has been in good goalscoring form this calendar year, with three strikes in three matches in January, which helped the Jambos to 2-1 victories over Livingston in the Scottish Premiership and Spartans in the Scottish Cup, while he was also on target in a 2-2 home draw with Ross County in the league.
You can find out more about Hearts in our match day programe for the game. Every issue has the best exclusive interviews and in-depth features, read more about what you can find in the Hearts issue below:
Exclusive interview with January transfer window signing Fabio Silva who speaks about settling in at the club and life in Glasgow, as well as the good start to his time at Rangers.
Welcome message and update from CEO James Bisgrove
Philippe Clement's and Captain James Tavernier's programme notes
The full lowdown on Hearts and matches between the clubs with Oppo Focus, Previous Meetings, Fast Facts and more.
We have the latest instalment of looking back on the successful 1998-99 Season 25 Years On, as we remember a February rush of goals.
Club historian David Mason remembers a harrowing incident from 1930 when the team were travelling across America on a tour of North America.
There's an indepth interview by Rangers Youth Development Company with former Gers striker Kevin Drinkell, who only spent one goal-laden season with the club in the late 1980s.
We hear from Donald Gillies, the Women's Football Managing Director on what attracted him to take the job at the club.
There's all our regular features like On This Day, the Half Time Quiz, Junior Gers results, fixtures, a check in with th Rangers Charity Foundation and more!
All this plus so much more can be found in 84-page issue, price just £4.
Programmes can be purchased pre-match at Ibrox Stadium from our sellers outside the stadium, at the bar in Edmiston House, within the Museum Store or at every kiosk inside the stadium, or online here.