Hibernian FC has announced this evening that club legends Lewis Stevenson and Paul Hanlon will depart the club this coming summer after their contracts expire.
The duo has amassed over 1100 appearances between them since graduating from the Easter Road Academy, with Stevenson making 599 appearances and Hanlon 562, with only four games left to play this campaign.
Stevenson's debut was remarkably in 2005 against Ayr United, playing under Tony Mowbray. He has since achieved the distinction of winning the Scottish League Cup in 2007 and the Scottish Cup in 2016, becoming the sole Hibernian player to accomplish this feat..
He was also part of the team that won promotion and the Scottish Championship in 2017 and has scored 10 goals for the Hibees.
Lewy has been capped at U19, U21 and is also a full Scotland international, his only cap coming against Peru in 2018.
In 2008, Hanlon had a brief loan period with St Johnstone, where he played three games. He then made his debut for Hibs three years after Lewis, in a Scottish Cup tie at Easter Road. Hibs triumphed 3-0 over Inverness in what was Mixu Paatelainen's inaugural game as manager. Coincidentally, Lewis Stevenson and David Murphy were both injured and missed the match.
He was, of course, also part of the 2016 Scottish Cup winning side, and also won the Scottish Championship and promotion in 2017, he has scored 28 goals for the club.
Paul was also capped at U19, U21 and full international level.
He picked up his only cap in a 1-0 win over the Czech Republic in 2020.
Both players will have maximum 4 games left in the green and white, and will play their last home game against Motherwell at Easter Road next Wednesday, May 15th, and there will be a special tribute after the game for the pair.
Hibs owners the Gordon Family put the following statement on the club website:
“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.”
HIBS-MAD VIEW:
What can you say about Lewy and Paul?
The guys at Hibs-Mad Towers have met both, and they are genuinely lovely guys and have surely written their names into club legend.
They both helped break the Scottish Cup hoodoo and have had brilliant careers.
They deserve every plaudit heading their way, it's going to be a strange and sad day not seeing thier names on a team-sheet at Easter Road.
All we can say is thank you guys.
Thank you.
Tell us what you think of this news on our forum HERE