ON THE MOVE
Two key Hibs stars to LEAVE Easter Road as club makes major announcement
They've announced plans to honour the duo
IT'S the end of an era at Easter Road this summer.
That's because the Hibees will let more than 1,100 games of first-team experience walk out the door with news that club legends Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson are to depart.
4
4
4
4
Stevenson - the only Hibs star EVER to win both the League Cup and Scottish Cup during his time at the club - is the club's RECORD league appearance holder.
He made his debut in 2005 with club captain Hanlon following in his footsteps in 2008.
An Easter Road statement read: "Club legends Paul Hanlon and Lewis Stevenson will depart Hibernian FC after nearly two decades at Easter Road.
"After playing over 1,100 games combined for the Hibees, the pair will both leave the club at the end of the 2023/24 campaign following the expiration of their contracts.
Read More Football Stories
"Both Paul and Lewis will go down as legends and great servants of the club having come through the Hibernian FC Academy, with Stevenson making his debut in 2005 and Hanlon following in his footsteps in 2008.
"At 19-years-old, Stevenson was part of the 2007 League Cup winning side that beat Kilmarnock 5-1 at Hampden Park – picking up the Man of the Match award after an exceptional performance in the final.
"In the 2015/16 campaign, the pair played their part in rewriting the Hibernian FC history books ending a 114-year wait to lift the Scottish Cup.
"Both players featured heavily in the lead-up to the final, with Stevenson starting every match and Paul Hanlon scoring that crucial equalising goal to force a replay against Hearts in the Fifth Round.
Most read in Football
"On 21 May 2016, Stevenson and Hanlon wrote their names into Hibernian FC folklore, starting the match in our 3-2 Scottish Cup triumph over Rangers.
"In doing so, Stevenson became the first – and currently – only ever player to win the Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup with Hibs.
I love beating Hibs says Craig Levein as former Hearts boss trolls old rivals after St Johnstone upset
"Hanlon has since gone on to captain the Hibees on numerous occasions and was officially named club captain in the summer of 2021, whilst Stevenson became the club’s all-time record league appearance holder in February 2023 surpassing Arthur Duncan’s record of 449 league games.
"The pair have constantly set the standard with their professionalism and attitude throughout their careers, which has seen Stevenson feature 599 times for the Hibees, with Hanlon close-behind on 562 to-date. They currently sit fourth and fifth respectively in the Club’s all-time appearance chart.
"Off the pitch, both Paul and Lewis have been consummate professionals and fantastic representatives of the Club and will leave with the very best wishes from everyone involved at Hibernian FC.
The Gordon Family commented: “We’d like to begin by thanking Paul and Lewis for everything they have done at Hibernian FC. What they have achieved at the Club is absolutely magnificent and their names will forever be written in the Club’s history.
“They will always be considered among the greats at Hibernian FC, which is down to the tremendous roles they’ve played both on and off the pitch. They will always be friends of the Club.
“Our final home game against Motherwell will give us a chance to bid an emotional farewell to both Paul and Lewis, and give them the send-off they deserve.
Read more on the Scottish Sun
"The Club will hold a special tribute to the duo after our final home game of the season against Motherwell on Wednesday 15 May, 2024."
Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page