Neil Critchley equalled a club record after overseeing Heart of Midlothian's 4-0 win over St Mirren in his first game as head coach.
The Englishman was appointed as Steven Naismith's successor on Tuesday following a process that was guided by analytics.
His first game could not have gone much better as the team recorded their first league win of the season and kept only their second clean sheet of the campaign. The afternoon finished with the Gorgie Ultras chanting his name.
As revealed by Hearts Heritage, Critchley became just the second manager in the club's history to record a win by a margin of four goals in his first game.
Confirmation that Neil Critchley's 4-0 win in his first competitive match in charge equalled the best by John McCartney back in 1910.
— Hearts Heritage (@Hearts_Heritage) October 20, 2024
2 by 4 goal margin
3 by 3 goals
10 by 2 goals
4 by a single goal pic.twitter.com/phcbls7xOv
He joins John McCartney for the biggest winning margin by a manager in their first game. Coincidentally, McCartney led Hearts to a 4-0 win in a Scottish Cup tie in February 1910 against St Mirren.
Of the 37 managers counted, 19 led Hearts to a win in their first competitive match, discounting interim or caretaker spells. Paulo Sergio, Alex MacDonald, Jim Jefferies, George Burley, and Robbie Neilson amongst them, as well as Valdas Ivanauskas and Steven Naismith.
Hearts Heritage revealed four drew their first game while 14 lost.
Critchley will now look forward to a European tie against Omonia of Cyprus on Thursday before his first Edinburgh derby when Hearts take on Hibs at Easter Road on Sunday.
Speaking on the reception he received on Saturday from the Hearts fans, Critchley said: "I loved it. It was fantastic. I understand that I'm going to have to prove myself to the supporters here. I totally get that, but I'm confident I will. And they'll learn over time, hopefully, that they believe in who I am as a person and what I can bring to this football club."
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