Hibernian F.C. in European football

File:Georg Melches Stadion.JPG at the Georg-Melches-Stadion. The clubs played a friendly in July 2005 to mark the 50th anniversary of their entry into European competition.]]

The first officially sanctioned European club tournament, the European Champion Clubs' Cup, was launched in 1955. Conceived by Gabriel Hanot, the editor of L'Équipe, as a competition for winners of the European national football leagues, it is considered the most prestigious European football competition.{{cite book |last=Moore|first=Glenn|title=The Concise Encyclopedia of World Football|publisher=Parragon|isbn=0-7525-4466-7|date=2000|page=217}}{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/ |title=Football's premier club competition |publisher=Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) |access-date=25 December 2011}} Hibernian had only finished fifth in the 1954–55 Scottish league, but were one of the 16 sides invited to take part in the tournament's first season.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jan/08/hibernian-british-team-european-cup-hibs |title=How Hibs became the first British club to play in the European Cup |first=Jon |last=Spurling |work=Nutmeg |date=8 January 2018 |access-date=19 May 2018}} As there was no English representative in the first competition, Hibernian also became the first British club to participate in European club competition.{{cite web|title=Season 1955–56|url=http://www.europeancuphistory.com/euro56.html|website=European Cup History|access-date=21 July 2015}} In their first tie, Hibernian defeated Rot-Weiss Essen (West Germany) thanks to a comfortable win in the away leg. Swedish club Djurgården were their next opponents, but they were unable to play the home match in Stockholm due to adverse winter weather. Both legs were played in Scotland, with the Djurgardens "home" venue being Firhill. Hibernian won 3–1 in Glasgow and 1–0 at Easter Road to progress to the semi-finals. At that stage they were drawn with French club Reims, who won 3–0 on aggregate to progress to the final (which Reims lost 4–3 to Real Madrid).

The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, which is treated as an unofficial European competition as it was not operated by UEFA, was also established in 1955. Hibernian became the first Scottish club to participate in that competition, in 1960.{{cite web|title=Farewell to the Fairs Cup|url=https://splstats.wordpress.com/2012/08/24/farewell-to-the-fairs-cup/|website=SPL Stats|access-date=10 August 2015}} After a walkover victory against Swiss club Lausanne,{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/bar-231-a-return-recalls-1961-pitch-battle-1-1169137 |title=Barça return recalls 1961 pitch battle |work=The Scotsman |date=20 May 2008 |access-date=22 May 2018}} Hibernian faced Spanish giants Barcelona in the quarter-final. The first leg in the Camp Nou ended in a 4–4 draw, after Hibernian had twice led by two goals. In the return leg at Easter Road, a late penalty kick by Bobby Kinloch gave Hibernian a 3–2 win on the night and a 7–6 victory on aggregate. In the semi-final, Hibernian faced Italian side Roma. They drew 2–2 at Easter Road and 3–3 in Rome, but the away goals rule did not apply at that time and a playoff match was required. The playoff was also played in Rome, which Roma won 6–0 as they went on to win the tournament.

Through most of the 1960s and the 1970s, Hibernian were regular participants in European competition. Wins against select teams from Copenhagen (Stævnet){{cite web |url=http://www.hibshistoricaltrust.org.uk/historic-matches/danish-opponents-hibernian-vs.-brondby-if |first=Tom |last=Wright |date=5 August 2016 |access-date=22 May 2018 |title=Danish opponents: Hibernian vs. Brøndby IF |publisher=Hibernian Historical Trust}} and Utrecht{{cite web |url=http://www.hibshistoricaltrust.org.uk/forwards/jimmy-o-rourke |access-date=22 May 2018 |title=Jimmy O'Rourke |publisher=Hibernian Historical Trust}} put Hibernian into the quarter-finals of the 1962–63 Fairs Cup, where they lost 6–2 on aggregate to Valencia. In the 1965–66 Fairs Cup, Hibernian met Valencia again with each team winning their home game 2–0; Valencia progressed after they won a playoff match.

Hibernian defeated Portuguese club Porto in the first round of the 1967–68 Fairs Cup, but then lost 4–1 to Napoli in the second round first leg.{{Cite news|url=http://sport.scotsman.com/hibernianfc/Classic-Match-Hibs-5-.3907874.jp|title=Classic Match: Hibs 5–0 Napoli, 29 November 1967|date=24 March 2008|publisher=Johnston Press|newspaper=The Scotsman|access-date=20 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080326174303/http://sport.scotsman.com/hibernianfc/Classic-Match-Hibs-5-.3907874.jp |archive-date=26 March 2008}} Napoli were the league leaders in Italy at the time, had only conceded five goals in their last six matches and had legendary goalkeeper Dino Zoff in their lineup. Despite this, Hibernian overwhelmed their Italian opponents and won 5–0 at Easter Road to win the tie 6–4 on aggregate. In the following round, Hibernian were beaten 2–1 on aggregate by Leeds United.

File:Dino Zoff, 1970.jpg (pictured in 1970) conceded five goals at Easter Road as Hibernian defeated Napoli in the 1967–68 Fairs Cup.]]

Wins against Olimpija Ljubljana{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/8717 |title=Hibs in Europe: Olimpija Ljubjana (1968) |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=23 May 2018 |access-date=23 May 2018 |first=John |last=Stephens}} and Lokomotive Leipzig{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/8711 |title=Hibs in Europe: Lokomotive Leipzig (1968) |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=22 May 2018 |access-date=22 May 2018 |first=James |last=Delaney}} in the 1968–69 Fairs Cup pushed Hibernian into a third round tie with Hamburg. Hibernian won 2–1 at home and lost 1–0 in Germany, which meant that they were eliminated by the away goals rule. In the final season (1970–71) of the Fairs Cup, Hibernian defeated Malmo 9–2 and Vitoria Guimaraes 3–2, but were then beaten 3–0 by English side Liverpool.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/hibs-nostalgia-hibs-6-malmo-0-1970-1-3000698 |title=Hibs nostalgia: Hibs 6, Malmo 0, 1970 |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=13 July 2013 |access-date=22 May 2018}} Joe McBride scored a hat-trick in the home leg against Malmo, which set a club record for goals scored in European competition.

Hibernian entered the European Cup Winners' Cup for the first (and only) time in 1972–73, as the Scottish Cup winners (Celtic) had also won the league championship. They faced Portuguese club Sporting in the first round, and lost 2–1 in the first leg in Lisbon.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/classic-match-hibs-6-sporting-lisbon-1-sept-27-1972-1-1203949 |title=Classic match: Hibs 6 Sporting Lisbon 1: Sept 27, 1972 |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=20 April 2009 |access-date=20 May 2018}} Hibernian scored first in the return leg through Alan Gordon. Sporting equalised before half-time, but five goals without reply in the second half gave Hibernian a 6–1 victory on the night and 7–3 on aggregate. Jimmy O'Rourke scored a hat-trick in what was Sporting's heaviest defeat in European competition at that time. Another emphatic home win, 7–1 against Albanian club KS Besa, put Hibernian into the quarter-finals.{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/8708 |title=Hibs in Europe: KS Besa (1972) |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=21 May 2018 |access-date=21 May 2018}} Hibernian won 4–2 at Easter Road in the first leg against Hajduk Split, but a 3–0 defeat in Yugoslavia knocked them out of the tournament.

UEFA had taken over the operation of the Fairs Cup in 1971 and rebranded it as the UEFA Cup. Hibernian entered this competition for the first time in 1973–74. After a 3–1 aggregate win against Icelandic club Keflavík in the first round,{{cite web |url=http://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/8720 |title=Hibs in Europe: Keflavik (1973) |first=John |last=Stephens |publisher=Hibernian FC |date=25 May 2018 |access-date=25 May 2018}} Hibernian met Leeds United for a second time. Both games ended goalless, and Leeds won the tie after a penalty shootout.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/teams/hibernian/don-revie-controversy-leaves-hibs-with-hope-1-3181614 |title=Don Revie controversy leaves Hibs with hope |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=9 November 2013 |first=John |last=Rafferty |access-date=20 May 2018}} Norwegian club Rosenborg were the first round opposition in the 1974–75 UEFA Cup.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/hibs-classic-match-1-1275457 |work=The Scotsman |title=Hibs Classic Match |date=22 September 2008 |access-date=21 May 2018}} After a 3–2 win in Norway, three goals in four minutes started a 9–1 rout for Hibernian (and a club record defeat for Rosenborg) in the second leg.{{cite web |url=http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_trondelag/1.5106359 |title=Klubbrekorder |publisher=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |last=Berre |first=Tor |date=18 October 2010 |language=no |access-date=22 April 2011 |archive-date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719095045/http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_trondelag/1.5106359 |url-status=live }} They would progress to the second round, where they lost 8–2 to Italian club Juventus.{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/hibs-in-50-objects-no-35-pennants-from-european-greats-1-4511890 |title=Hibs in 50 objects: No.35 – Pennants from European greats |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |date=24 July 2017 |access-date=21 May 2018}}

In the 1975–76 UEFA Cup, Hibernian were paired with English side Liverpool in the first round. A Joe Harper goal gave Hibernian a 1–0 win in the first leg at home, but Ray Clemence saved a penalty that could have given Hibernian a two-goal lead. This moment was to prove crucial, as Liverpool won 3–1 at Anfield to narrowly win the tie on aggregate. Liverpool went on to win the competition, with that first leg loss against being their only defeat en route.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/classic-match-hibs-1-liverpool-0-sept-17-1975-1-1273930 |title=Classic Match: Hibs 1, Liverpool 0, Sept 17, 1975 |newspaper=The Scotsman |date=29 September 2008 |access-date=21 May 2018}} In the following season, Hibernian managed to squeeze through 1–0 in the first round of the UEFA Cup against French side Sochaux.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DiEjAwAAQBAJ&dq=hibs+sochaux+-sauzee&pg=PT166 |title=Shades: The Short Life and Tragic Death of Erich Schaedler |first=Colin |last=Leslie |year=2013 |publisher=Black & White Publishing Ltd |isbn=978-1-84502541-0}} A 2–0 home win against Swedish club Öster raised hopes of further progress, but that lead was overturned by a 4–1 defeat in the return leg.

Manager Eddie Turnbull enjoyed success with Hibernian and guided them to several European entries during the 1970s. The last of these was in the 1978–79 UEFA Cup, where they defeated Norrkoping 3–2 at home and this lead was preserved as the Swedes were held to a goalless draw in the second leg.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3FBuAwAAQBAJ&dq=hibs+strasbourg&pg=PA597 |page=597 |first=David |last=Ross |title=Gaffers |year=2013 |isbn=978-1-4709-2710-3 |publisher=scottishleague.net}} Hibernian had been known for their attacking play under Turnbull, but he adopted more defensive tactics this season. This proved unsuccessful in the second round, as Hibernian lost 2–0 in Strasbourg. A 1–0 win for Hibernian in the return leg was therefore insufficient, and it was to be the club's last involvement in European football for 11 years.

File:Hibs 5-0 Dinaburg.JPG in the 2006 Intertoto Cup.]]

Since 1979, Hibernian have qualified for European competition much less frequently.{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/hibernianfc/Hughes-wants-to-build-a.6438278.jp |title=Hughes wants to build a Euro legacy |last=Hardie |first=David |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=24 July 2010 |access-date=24 July 2010}} They did not qualify at all for most of the 1980s, as the New Firm of Aberdeen and Dundee United enjoyed success domestically and in Europe. Their next participation came in the 1989–90 UEFA Cup, where Hibernian won 3–0 in Hungary (and 4–0 on aggregate) against Videoton in the first round.{{Cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/hibee-history-classy-hibs-run-rings-round-nasty-videoton-1-1245463 |title=Hibee history: Classy Hibs run rings round nasty Videoton |work=The Scotsman |date=26 June 2010 |access-date=20 May 2018}} The second round tie with Belgian club Liège went into extra time after two goalless draws. Keith Houchen had missed a penalty kick in the first leg, and this proved costly as Liège scored the only goal of the tie during the additional period.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ak7SDAAAQBAJ&dq=hibs+rfc+liege&pg=PT37 |year=2016 |publisher=Pitch Publishing |first=Ian |last=Colquhoun |isbn=978-1-78531-178-9 |title=From Oblivion to Hampden }} Victory in the 1991–92 Scottish League Cup qualified Hibernian for the 1992–93 UEFA Cup, where they were paired with Belgian opposition again.{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/hibs-in-50-objects-no-23-silver-salver-from-anderlecht-1-4498901 |title=Hibs in 50 objects: No.23 – Silver salver from Anderlecht |work=Edinburgh Evening News |date=10 July 2017 |access-date=20 May 2018}} Anderlecht scored two away goals in a 2–2 draw at Easter Road, and a 1–1 draw in the return game meant that Hibernian went out on the away goals rule.

Hibernian next qualified for European competition in 2001, having finished third in the 2000–01 Scottish Premier League.{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2001/aug/24/newsstory.sport |title=Hibs hit hardest in Uefa draw |first=Scott |last=Murray |date=24 August 2001 |access-date=20 May 2018 |work=The Guardian }} They entered the 2001–02 UEFA Cup and were drawn against Greek club AEK Athens. The first leg in Greece, which was postponed by a week due to the September 11 attacks against the United States,{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/3012665/UEFA-finds-new-dates-for-postponed-games.html |title=UEFA finds new dates for postponed games |work=Daily Telegraph |publisher=Telegraph Media Group |date=12 September 2001 }} ended in a 2–0 defeat for Hibernian. A strong performance in the return leg gave them a 2–0 lead, equalising the aggregate score. Paco Luna missed a chance to score a third and tie-winning goal late in normal time, and the tie entered an extra period. Two away goals gave AEK an aggregate win, although Hibernian won 3–2 on the night.{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/uefa_cup/1564183.stm |title=Hibs crash in extra time |publisher=BBC Sport |date=27 September 2001 }} Despite exiting the competition, the home game against AEK was fondly remembered by the Hibernian supporters; the actor Dougray Scott later named it as his favourite match.{{cite news |url=http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,904382,00.html |title=My team: Hibernian |work=The Observer |date=2 March 2003 }}

During the 2000s, Hibernian also volunteered to enter the Intertoto Cup on three occasions. This offered a potential backdoor route into the UEFA Cup, but the fixtures being played in early July meant that Hibernian had to start their pre-season training earlier than other Scottish clubs. The games themselves also fell early in pre-season, and they lost in the 2004 competition to Lithuanian club Vetra.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/intertoto-gamble-fails-to-pay-off-for-hibees-1-1023080 |title=Intertoto gamble fails to pay off for Hibees |work=The Scotsman |date=12 July 2004 |access-date=20 May 2018}} They played a friendly match against Rot-Weiss Essen in July 2005 to mark the 50th anniversary of the clubs' first match in European competition.{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/competitions/premiership/hibs-head-for-essen-to-relive-first-euro-tie-1-1056000 |title=Hibs head for Essen to relive first Euro tie |work=The Scotsman |date=27 May 2005 |access-date=21 May 2018}} Hibernian had finished third in the league and qualified for the 2005–06 UEFA Cup. In the opening round, they held Ukrainian club Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk to a goalless draw at home but fell to a 5–1 defeat in the return leg.

After further entries in the Intertoto Cup were ended by Odense (2006) and Elfsborg (2008), Hibernian next qualified properly for European competition in 2010. By then, the Intertoto Cup had been abolished and the UEFA Cup had been rebranded as the Europa League. In the 2010–11 competition, Hibernian were defeated home and away by Slovenian club Maribor in the third qualifying round. Hibernian lost 7–0 at Easter Road to Swedish club Malmo in the 2013–14 Europa League qualifiers.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23460365 |title=Europa League: Embarrassed Pat Fenlon's apology to Hibs fans |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 July 2013 |access-date=20 May 2018}} The aggregate score of 9–0 was a record defeat for a Scottish club in European competition, surpassing the 12–4 defeat suffered by Rangers in 1959–60.

Having won the 2015–16 Scottish Cup, Hibernian entered the 2016–17 Europa League qualifiers.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36821068 |title=Brondby IF 0–1 Hibernian |first=Bryn |last=Palmer |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 July 2016 |access-date=20 May 2018}} They lost 1–0 at home to Danish club Brondby, but a David Gray goal gave Hibernian a 1–0 win in Copenhagen. This forced the tie into a goalless period of extra time, and Brondby progressed to the next round by winning 5–3 on penalties. Hibernian next qualified for the Europa League in 2018–19 and progressed through qualifying rounds against Runavík and Asteras Tripolis, before losing in the third round to Molde. After finishing third in the 2020–21 Scottish Premiership, Hibs entered the newly-established Europa Conference League in 2021–22,{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57496921 |title=Celtic face Midtjylland in Champions League; Aberdeen & Hibs discover Conference League fate |website=BBC Sport |date=16 June 2021 |access-date=16 June 2021}} beating Andorrans Santa Coloma before losing to Croatian side Rijeka.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/58138085 |title=HNK Rijeka 4–1 Hibernian |first=Ben |last=Banks |website=BBC Sport |date=12 August 2021 |access-date=14 August 2021}} A fifth place finish in 2022–23, meant another qualification for the Europa Conference League in 2023–24.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65649000 |title=The race for Europe: Scottish sides have plenty to play for as season reaches climax |website=BBC Sport |first=Nick |last=McPheat |date=30 May 2023 |accessdate=3 June 2023}}{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65468697 |title=Scottish clubs in Europe - what do we now know? |website=BBC Sport |date=4 June 2023 |accessdate=4 June 2023}} Hibs progressed to the playoff round by beating Andorrans Inter Club d'Escaldes and Swiss club Luzern, but then suffered an 8–0 aggregate defeat against Premier League club Aston Villa.

{{updated|match played on 31 August 2023}}

The number of goals scored by Hibernian is on the left in each instance.

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• [https://web.archive.org/web/20130514022827/http://www.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=52821/profile/history/index.html List of European results per the UEFA official site]

{{Hibernian F.C.}}

{{Scottish football clubs in Europe}}

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Europe

Category:Scottish football clubs in international competitions