Extension for Paul Hanlon
HIBS CAPTAIN Paul Hanlon has agreed a contract extension that will run until the summer of 2024.
The central defender is approaching 500 games for his boyhood favourites after making his debut for the club on 12 January 2008, against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in The Scottish Cup.
Signed from Hutchison Vale as an attacking midfielder, he scored plenty of goals in youth football, but he was converted to a defender after he joined Hibs.
His performances earned him 21 caps for Scotland’s under-21 side and he was named captain for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship campaign.
In 2016 he scored “that” goal at Tynecastle to secure a replay and went on to help the club win The Scottish Cup for the first time in 114 years.
Hanlon received his first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in November
2017, for a friendly match with the Netherlands and was recalled to the squad in October 2020. He made his full international debut in a 1–0 win against the Czech Republic.
He was named club captain following the retirement of “Sir” David Gray.
Hanlon said: “I’m absolutely delighted. Talks moved forward when CEO, Ben Kensell came in and I’m really glad it’s over the line.
“When I was younger, my main aim was to just play for Hibs, which I’ve managed to do, and everything else has been a bonus. I’m delighted to represent and play for my boyhood club for a number of years.
“I feel like I’m coming into my peak years as a central defender, and hopefully more is still to come. It’s an honour to be captain of this club and hopefully I can be a successful one.”
Head coach, Jack Ross added: “It’s clear to everyone how much this football club means to Paul and equally how important he is to this team.
“Paul is an outstanding professional and sets standards on a daily basis by how he trains and conducts himself.
“He is continuing to develop his leadership qualities by having the responsibility of club captaincy and I am delighted that he will remain part of our continued future progress.”