Stevenson flattered by praise from French icon
LEWIS STEVENSON, the Hibernian stalwart, confesses to a sense of surprise that Easter Road icon Franck Sauzee has even heard of him, let alone would describe his longevity as “magnificent”.
However, the 33-year-old is adamant that he has plenty more miles left in the tank.
Stevenson made his 500th appearance for his boyhood club on Monday evening when he entered the fray as a halftime substitute against Celtic.
That laudable tally will only grow between now and the summer of 2022, at the very least, after Stevenson signed a one-year extension to his contract yesterday morning.
Only Willie Ormond, Pat Stanton, Arthur Duncan and Gordon Smith have pulled on a Hibs jersey more often than Stevenson, albeit his presence among such luminaries does not sit comfortably with the understated Fifer.
That was underlined when he reflected on messages of congratulations from the likes of Scotland star John McGinn and Sauzee, the Champions League winner who played for Hibs between 1999 and 2001 before a brief, less successful, stint as manager.
“Congratulations on making your 500th appearances Lewis. A magnificent achievement, keep playing as long as you can,” wrote Sauzee.
Stevenson will seek to make it 501 not out when Hibs host Kilmarnock today.
“I’m surprised he [Sauzee] knew who I was,” laughed Stevenson. “No, it was nice.
“I’m not really one to look at self-congratulation but sometimes it is nice to sit back and realise people have a lot of nice things to say about you.
“It’s probably something I won’t really look back on until I hang my boots up because I still want to play.”
Indeed, the last thing he would ever want is to be handed an extended stay in Leith out of sentimentality.
Stevenson, who made his senior debut at the age of 17 in 2005, is the only man in Hibs history to win both the League
Cup and Scottish Cup but is adamant he can contribute to future successes.
“I still think I’ve got a lot to give but different games are going to suit different players which has happened this season,” explained Stevenson.
“The manager has spoken to me and we said this contract has nothing to do with sentiment – it’s for the qualities I can give to the team.
“It wouldn’t have sat well with me if I was just getting another extension because I’d been here that long.”