(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty)
Hibs haven’t looked back since being relegated to the Championship in 2013-14. Since then the Hibees spent three seasons in Scotland’s second tier and ended their long awaited Scottish Cup drought.
Having not won it since 1902, their 114 year wait was ended in May 2016 following a 3-2 win over Rangers under the guidance of Alan Stubbs. Former and now current stand-in Celtic manager Neil Lennon would take the reigns and raid his former club in the process.
The Nigerian defender would arrive in Edinburgh, initially on loan for the rest of the 2016-17 season, in February 2017. Following Hibs’ promotion and his Celtic contract expiring, he made his stay in Leith a permanent one.
Ambrose gets away from Molde’s Pawel Cibcki in Europa League qualifying. (photo by Alan Rennie/Action Plus via Getty Images)
After initially signing a two year deal, he exercised an option to cut short his stay at Easter Road in January. Following an initial trial period, he now plays for Frank Lampard’s Derby County.
A few months prior to Ambrose’s arrival, Hibs had confirmed the ‘emergency’ loan signing of Kris Commons from Celtic. After only a handful of appearances, in which he scored a few goals, Lennon had admitted he hadn’t kept the playmaker for as long as he’d have liked.
Celtic’s Kris Commons battles with David Wotherspoon against his future employers during a match between Hibernian and Celtic at Easter Road . (Photo by Chris Brunskill/Getty Images)
After his Celtic release, Hibs were attempting to bring the midfielder east. With Commons recovering from a back operation, nothing ever materialised. He would later retire and you can now see him as a Sky Sports pundit covering Scottish football.
The most noteworthy of this trio, it was initially Celtic who signed Stokes from the Hibees following a prolific first spell in the Scottish capital. In his second spell, the Hoops loanee made his mark after netting twice in the 2016 Scottish Cup final victory over Rangers.
Hibs’ Anthony Stokes celebrates scoring the opening goal during the William Hill Scottish Cup Final between Rangers and Hibernian at Hampden Park on May 21, 2016. (Photo by Mark Runnacles/Getty Images)
A spell with Blackburn Rovers sandwiched his Celtic departure and third return to Leith. His third tenure was cut short due to disciplinary issues under Neil Lennon and he was to be released in January last year but departed a Hibs legend. He now plays in Iran for Tractor Sazi alongside former Motherwell and Kilmarnock striker Lee Erwin.
Hibs are in a much better place now than they were under Terry Butcher, Alan Stubbs and Neil Lennon. The Northern Irishman impressively guided them to fourth place last term as a newly promoted outfit. But now Paul Heckingbottom’s Hibs are looking to motor on and clinch another European spot.