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| Ground | Hibernian Training Centre East Lothian | |||
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| Website | http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/ | |||
In addition to their first team competing in the Scottish Premiership, Hibernian F.C. also maintain further teams for younger age groups playing in competitions such as the Scottish Challenge Cup and the Scottish Youth Cup within the club's academy.
In the early 1950s, reserve teams were incorporated into the third tier of the senior Scottish Football League, with Hibernian 'A' taking part for six seasons of the arrangement. [1] [2] [3] Hibs fielded a team for many years in various separate reserve competitions culminating in the Scottish Premier Reserve League, which was abandoned in 2009. An under-20 side then took part in the SPFL Development League until it was disbanded in 2018 – Hibs were its final champions. An SPFL Reserve League was set up in its place, but Hibs intimated at the end of its first season (2018–19) that they would withdraw from the Reserve League to play a variety of challenge matches. [4] They later entered a small league (under-21 plus three overage) along with three other Scottish clubs and Brentford and Huddersfield Town from the English leagues. [5]
Prior to the introduction of the Scottish Premier League in 1998, the Under-20s previously competed in the youth league administered by the Scottish Football League. Since 2015 it has been possible for the Hibs academy to participate in the UEFA Youth League by the Under-17 side winning the previous season's league at that age group. This was first achieved in 2022, and Hibs defeated Norwegian side Molde FK on penalties in the first round of the 2022–23 competition. [6] They then progressed through the second round by a 3–1 aggregate score against French club Nantes, but then lost 2–1 to Borussia Dortmund in the knockout phase. [7] [8] [9]
For the 2016–17 edition of the Scottish Challenge Cup, Under-20 teams of Premiership clubs were granted entry to compete against adult teams for the first time in the modern era. As Hibs were in the second tier that season, it was their senior team who entered the competition. Hibs under-20s first entered the Challenge Cup in the 2017–18 edition, losing 2–1 to Elgin City in the first round. [10]
Hibs' main area of recruitment is the Lothian and Borders region around Edinburgh which has a population of around one million. They face a constant battle with rivals Heart of Midlothian to sign the most promising youngsters in the area. In the past both Hibs and Hearts have signed many players from youth club Hutchison Vale. [11]
In 2016 the Investors in People Silver Award was bestowed on the Hibernian Academy for its work with the young people connected to the organisation. [12]
In 2017, the Hibernian academy was one of eight across the country designated 'elite' status on the introduction of Project Brave, an SFA initiative to concentrate the development of the best young players at a smaller number of clubs with high quality facilities and coaching than was previously the case. [13] [14]
Although the official home of the academy teams is the club's training centre near Ormiston, the Under-20 matches usually take place at lower league stadia: Ainslie Park in Edinburgh, home of Spartans F.C. is used most frequently, and fixtures have also been played at the indoor Oriam facility which was the official venue for the reserves in the 2018–19 season. [15]
Note: Several players on the list have either made first team appearances for Hibs, or have been loaned to other SPFL clubs; however they can still be selected for Development League fixtures whenever available to play. [16] [17]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Reserves
Youth
This list focuses on the players who have graduated through Hibernian's academy, and have made at least 50 first team appearances, since the inception of the SPL in 1998. This includes a group considered a "golden generation", who helped Hibs to Scottish League Cup finals in 2004 [22] [23] and 2007 [24] (the latter of which they won), and most of whom went on to play for Scotland. [25] [26] Many other of the club's earlier notable players also came through the youth system. Players currently at Hibs in bold.
Hibernian Football Club, commonly known as Hibs, is a professional football club in Edinburgh, Scotland. The team competes in the Scottish Premiership, the top division of Scottish football. The club was founded in 1875 by members of Edinburgh's Irish community, and the name is derived from the Latin for Ireland. The Irish heritage of Hibernian is reflected in the name, colours and badge of the club. The green main shirt colour is usually accompanied by white sleeves and shorts. Their local rivals are Heart of Midlothian, with whom they contest the Edinburgh derby.
Kevin Thomson is a Scottish professional football coach and former player.
John Rankin is a Scottish football coach and former player, who manages Scottish Championship club Hamilton Academical.
Lewis Stevenson is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left-back or a midfielder for Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers. He previously played for Hibernian, making his debut in September 2005, and holds the club record for league appearances. Stevenson is the only Hibs player to have won both the Scottish League Cup and the Scottish Cup with the club, doing so in 2007 and 2016 respectively. He made his first full international appearance for Scotland in May 2018.
In addition to their senior squad, Rangers Football Club also operate a football Academy which contains a number of football teams culminating in a B team, which plays friendly challenge matches against various domestic and European sides in accordance with the academy's development plan, having declined the option to continue in the SPFL Reserve League despite winning the competition in 2019. Historically, the club's second side was known as the Rangers Swifts.
Paul Thomas Hanlon is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defender for Scottish Championship club Raith Rovers. He began his senior career with Hibernian, making his debut in 2008, and went on to make over 500 appearances for the club. He also briefly played for St Johnstone on loan during the 2008–09 season.
The SPFL Development League was the top level of youth football in Scotland, which was contested in various formats between 1998 and 2018.
Hibernian Women's Football Club is a women's football team based in Edinburgh that plays in the Scottish Women's Premier League, the top division of women's football in Scotland. They were officially integrated as a department of Hibernian F.C. in 2022, having previously been linked less formally via their community foundation, using the club's training facilities and colours.
Christopher Cadden is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Scottish Premiership club Hibernian. Cadden, who is a product of the Motherwell Academy, made his first full international appearance for Scotland in May 2018.
Scott Anthony Martin is a Scottish footballer, who plays for Scottish Championship club Hamilton Academical as a midfielder. Martin has previously played for Hibernian, and on loan for Forfar Athletic and Arbroath.
Simon Murray is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a striker for Scottish Premiership club Dundee.
Oliver Glen Shaw is a Scottish professional footballer who plays for Scottish Championship side Hamilton Academical. He has previously played for Kilmarnock, Hibernian, Stenhousemuir, Ross County and represented Scotland at the under-19 and under-21 levels.
Sean Mackie is a Scottish footballer who plays as a left-back for Scottish Championship club Falkirk. Mackie has previously played for Raith Rovers, Hibernian, Berwick Rangers, Edinburgh City and Dundee.
Ryan Thomas Porteous is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a centre back for EFL Championship club Watford and the Scotland national team. He has previously played for Hibernian and spent a spell on loan at Edinburgh City, and represented Scotland at the under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels before making his full international debut in September 2022.
The 2019–20 season was Hibernian's third consecutive season in the top tier of Scottish football, the Scottish Premiership, having been promoted from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2016–17 season. Hibs finished seventh in the league, which was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They lost to Celtic in the semi-finals of the League Cup and Hearts in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.
The 2020–21 season was Hibernian's (Hibs) fourth season of play back in the top league of Scottish football, having been promoted from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2016–17 season. Hibs lost in the semi-finals of the League Cup to St Johnstone, and in the 2021 Scottish Cup Final to the same opponents. Hibs finished third in the Premiership, which was their highest league position since 2004–05.
Josh Thomas Doig is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a left-back or left wing-back for Serie B club Sassuolo. He has previously played for Hibernian, Queen's Park and Hellas Verona, and has represented Scotland at the under-21 level.
The 2021–22 season was Hibernian's (Hibs) fifth season of play back in the top league of Scottish football, having been promoted from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2016–17 season. Hibs lost 2–1 to Celtic in the League Cup final and by the same score to Hearts in a Scottish Cup semi-final. Earlier in the season they participated in the inaugural edition of the UEFA Europa Conference League, losing to Croatian side HNK Rijeka.
The 2022–23 season was Hibernian's sixth season of play back in the Scottish Premiership, top division of Scottish football, having been promoted from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2016–17 season. Hibs were knocked out of the Scottish Cup in the fourth round and at the group stage of the League Cup.
Murray Johnson is a Scottish footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Scottish Championship club Airdrieonians, on loan from Scottish Premiership club Hibernian. He had previous loan spells with Airdrieonians and Queen of the South.
