title: 2016–17 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season
text: # 2016–17 Heart of Midlothian F.C. season
  
  The 2016–17 season is the 120th season of competitive football by Heart of Midlothian F.C. with the team participating in the Scottish Premiership.
  
  The club begins its second consecutive season in the top tier of Scottish football, having been promoted from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2014–15 season. Hearts played just one season in the Scottish Championship after relegation from the Scottish Premiership at the end of the 2013–14 season. Hearts also competed in the Scottish Cup, Scottish League Cup, and the UEFA Europa League.
  
  ## Summary
  
  ### Management
  
  Hearts started the Season with Robbie Neilson at the helm having been promoted to Head Coach for the 2014–15 season. On 2 December 2016, Robbie Neilson joined English Football League One side MK Dons along with assistant manager Stevie Crawford. With 2 years remaining on his contract compensation was paid to Hearts. For that following weekend's fixture against Ross County, Jon Daly and Andy Kirk took charge, overseeing a 2–2 draw. On 5 December, Ian Cathro was named as Hearts' new manager. Although taking the position with no prior playing or management experience, Cathro was a coach at Rio Ave, Valencia and Newcastle United. He was joined by Northern Ireland assistant manager Austin MacPhee.
  
  ## Results & fixtures
  
  Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed
  
  ## First team player statistics
  
  ### Captains
  
  | No | Pos | Name | No of games | Notes |
  | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 5 | DF | Öztürk | 5 | Captain |
  | 6 | MF | Kitchen | 25 | Captain |
  | 7 | MF | Walker | 1 | Vice-captain |
  | 15 | MF | Cowie | 16 | Vice-captain |
  
  Last updated: 23 May 2017 Source: Competitive match reports. Competitive matches only Matches started as captain only Country: FIFA nationality; No.: Squad number; P: Position; Name: Player name; No. Games: Number of games started as captain.
  
  ### Squad information
  
  During the 2016–17 season, Hearts have used thirty-three players in competitive games. The table below includes all players registered with the SPFL as part of Hearts squad for 2016–17 season. They may not have made an appearance.
  
      Last updated 23 May 2017
  
  | Number | Position | Nation | Name | Totals | Totals | Premiership | Premiership | Europa League | Europa League | League Cup | League Cup | Scottish Cup | Scottish Cup |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Number | Position | Nation | Name | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
  | 1 | GK | SCO | Jack Hamilton | 44 | 0 | 35+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 |
  | 2 | DF | SCO | Callum Paterson | 25 | 10 | 20+0 | 8 | 4+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 4 | MF | GRE | Alexandros Tziolis | 18 | 1 | 14+2 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
  | 5 | DF | NIR | Aaron Hughes | 12 | 0 | 8+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 |
  | 6 | MF | USA | Perry Kitchen | 35 | 0 | 26+3 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 |
  | 7 | MF | SCO | Jamie Walker | 43 | 15 | 28+6 | 12 | 4+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 1 | 4+0 | 2 |
  | 8 | MF | GHA | Prince Buaben | 26 | 2 | 11+9 | 1 | 4+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 |
  | 10 | MF | CMR | Arnaud Djoum | 40 | 6 | 30+3 | 6 | 4+0 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
  | 11 | MF | SCO | Sam Nicholson | 27 | 2 | 13+6 | 2 | 2+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 |
  | 12 | DF | GRE | Tasos Avlonitis | 11 | 0 | 8+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
  | 13 | GK | SWE | Viktor Noring | 3 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 14 | MF | SCO | John Souttar | 27 | 0 | 22+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
  | 15 | MF | SCO | Don Cowie | 39 | 3 | 34+0 | 3 | 0+2 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 0 |
  | 16 | MF | MAR | Choulay | 12 | 0 | 3+8 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
  | 17 | DF | NGA | Juwon Oshaniwa | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 19 | DF | POL | Krystian Nowak | 19 | 1 | 17+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
  | 20 | FW | NOR | Bjørn Johnsen | 37 | 6 | 22+12 | 5 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+1 | 1 |
  | 22 | MF | SCO | Angus Beith | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 23 | FW | FRA | Dylan Bikey | 2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 24 | DF | SCO | Liam Smith | 25 | 0 | 12+8 | 0 | 3+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
  | 25 | FW | BUL | Nikolay Todorov | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 27 | DF | SVN | Andraz Struna | 17 | 1 | 13+0 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 |
  | 29 | MF | SCO | Jamie Brandon | 1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 30 | FW | SCO | Rory Currie | 11 | 1 | 1+8 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+1 | 1 |
  | 46 | DF | GER | Lennard Sowah | 15 | 0 | 11+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 0 |
  | 49 | FW | SCO | Euan Henderson | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 77 | FW | POR | Esmaël Gonçalves | 17 | 8 | 15+0 | 7 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 2+0 | 1 |
  | 88 | MF | FRA | Malaury Martin | 17 | 2 | 5+8 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 4+0 | 1 |
  | - | MF | SCO | Billy King | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | - | FW | SCO | Gavin Reilly | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | - | DF | SCO | Jordan McGhee | 1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | Players away from Heart of Midlothian on loan: ||||||||||||||
  | 18 | FW | IRL | Conor Sammon | 26 | 2 | 9+10 | 1 | 4+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
  | 21 | FW | SCO | Robbie Buchanan | 0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 26 | FW | CAN | Dario Zanatta (Hearts F.C. U20) | 3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
  | Players who appeared for Heart of Midlothian no longer at the club: ||||||||||||||
  | 3 | DF | MAR | Faycal Rherras | 23 | 1 | 17+2 | 1 | 4+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 4 | DF | BRA | Igor Rossi | 24 | 2 | 20+0 | 0 | 3+0 | 2 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 5 | DF | TUR | Alim Öztürk | 10 | 1 | 2+3 | 0 | 4+0 | 1 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 9 | FW | ESP | Juanma | 4 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 1+3 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 23 | FW | SCO | Robbie Muirhead | 20 | 2 | 6+12 | 2 | 0+1 | 0 | 1+0 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  | 32 | FW | SCO | Tony Watt | 17 | 1 | 12+4 | 1 | 0+0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0+0 | 0 |
  
  * Last updated: 23 May 2017
  * Source: Wikipedia players' articles, Heart of Midlothian, Sky Sports
  * Ordered by Squad Number.
  
  Appearances (starts and substitute appearances) and goals include those in Scottish Premiership, Europa League, League Cup and the Scottish Cup.
  
  ### Disciplinary Record
  
      Last updated 23 May 2017
  
  | Number | Position | Name | Premiership | Premiership | Europa League | Europa League | League Cup | League Cup | Scottish Cup | Scottish Cup | Total | Total |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 2 | DF | Callum Paterson | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
  | 3 | DF | Faycal Rherras | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
  | 4 | DF | Igor Rossi | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
  | 4 | DF | Alexandros Tziolis | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
  | 5 | DF | Alim Öztürk | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
  | 6 | MF | Perry Kitchen | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
  | 7 | MF | Jamie Walker | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
  | 8 | DF | Prince Buaben | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
  | 10 | MF | Arnaud Djoum | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
  | 11 | MF | Sam Nicholson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
  | 12 | DF | Tasos Avlonitis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
  | 14 | DF | John Souttar | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
  | 15 | MF | Don Cowie | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
  | 18 | FW | Conor Sammon | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
  | 19 | MF | Krystian Nowak | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
  | 20 | FW | Bjørn Johnsen | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
  | 23 | FW | Robbie Muirhead | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
  | 24 | DF | Liam Smith | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
  | 27 | DF | Andraz Struna | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
  | 32 | FW | Tony Watt | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
  | 77 | FW | Esmaël Gonçalves | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 |
  | 88 | MF | Malaury Martin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
  
  ### Goal Scorers
  
  (Played in Italics have since left club) Last updated 23 May 2017
  
  | Place | Nation | Number | Name | Premiership | Europa League | League Cup | Scottish Cup | Total |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | MF | 7 | Jamie Walker | 12 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 15 |
  | 2 | DF | 2 | Callum Paterson | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 10 |
  | 3 | FW | 77 | Esmaël Gonçalves | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
  | 4 | MF | 10 | Arnaud Djoum | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
  | 4 | FW | 20 | Bjørn Johnsen | 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 6 |
  | 5 | MF | 15 | Don Cowie | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
  | 6 | DF | 4 | Igor Rossi | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
  | 6 | MF | 8 | Prince Buaben | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
  | 6 | MF | 11 | Sam Nicholson | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
  | 6 | FW | 18 | Conor Sammon | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
  | 6 | FW | 23 | Robbie Muirhead | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
  | 6 | FW | 88 | Malaury Martin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 |
  | 7 | DF | 3 | Faycal Rherras | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | 7 | FW | 4 | Alexandros Tziolis | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | 7 | DF | 5 | Alim Öztürk | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | 7 | DF | 19 | Krystian Nowak | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | 7 | DF | 27 | Andraz Struna | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  | 7 | FW | 30 | Rory Currie | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
  | 7 | FW | 32 | Tony Watt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
  
  ### Clean sheets
  
      Last updated 23 May 2017
  
  | R | Pos | Name | Games | Premiership | Europa League | League Cup | Scottish Cup | Total |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 1 | GK | Jack Hamilton | 44 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
  | 2 | GK | Viktor Noring | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
  | | | Totals | 45 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 12 |
  
  Last updated: 23 May 2017 Source: Match reports in Competitive matches
  
  ## Team statistics
  
  ### League table
  
  | Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | 3 | Rangers | 38 | 19 | 10 | 9 | 56 | 44 | +12 | 67 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
  | 4 | St Johnstone | 38 | 17 | 7 | 14 | 50 | 46 | +4 | 58 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
  | 5 | Heart of Midlothian | 38 | 12 | 10 | 16 | 55 | 52 | +3 | 46 | |
  | 6 | Partick Thistle | 38 | 10 | 12 | 16 | 38 | 54 | −16 | 42 | |
  | 7 | Ross County | 38 | 11 | 13 | 14 | 48 | 58 | −10 | 46 | |
  
  * ↑ Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.
  
  ### Scottish Premiership results by round
  
  | Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Ground | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | A | A |
  | Result | L | D | W | W | W | L | D | W | W | W | L | D | D | D | W | D | L | D | L | W | L | L | W | W | D | L | L | W | L | L | L | W | D | D | L | L | L | L |
  | Position | 9 | 11 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
  
  ### Management statistics
  
      Last updated on 23 May 2017
  
  | Name | From | To | P | W | D | L | Win% |
  | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
  | Robbie Neilson | 30 June 2016 | 3 December 2016 | 20 | 9 | 6 | 5 | 045.00 |
  | Jon Daly | 3 December 2016 | 5 December 2016 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 000.00 |
  | Ian Cathro | 5 December 2016 | 1 August 2017 | 27 | 6 | 6 | 15 | 022.22 |
  
  ## Club
  
  ### Club staff
  
  As of 23 May 2017
  
  | Name | Role |
  | - | - |
  | Ian Cathro | Head coach |
  | Austin MacPhee | Assistant head coach |
  | Karen Gibson | Physio |
  | Paul Gallacher | Goalkeeping Coach |
  
  ### Boardroom
  
  | Name | Role |
  | - | - |
  | Ann Budge | Owner, CEO and Chairwomen |
  | Craig Levein | Director of Football |
  | Eric Hogg | Non-Executive Director |
  | Donald Cumming | Non-Executive Director |
  | Kevin Windram | Non-Executive Director |
  