Hibernian F.C. season 2008-09

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Hibernian
Season 2008-09
Manager Flag of Finland Mixu Paatelainen
Chairman Flag of Scotland Rod Petrie
League Scottish Premier League
Final league position
Scottish Cup
CIS Cup
Top goalscorer
← Previous season
2007-08
Next season →
2009-10

Season 2008-09 for Hibernian will be their tenth consecutive season of play in the Scottish Premier League. The SPL season will begin on August 9, 2008, but Hibs' action will start earlier as they have entered the Intertoto Cup, having failed to qualify for the UEFA Cup. Their first match will be against either IF Elfsborg or HB Torshavn at Easter Road on July 5, 2008.

Contents

[edit] Pre-Season

Hibs manager Mixu Paatelainen announced during May 2008 that the Hibs players will only have four weeks off after the end of the 2007-08 season, giving them two weeks to prepare for the first Intertoto Cup game[1].

Hibs have announced that they will play pre-season friendlies against Premier League sides Middlesbrough and Wigan, both at Easter Road in the week before the Scottish Premier League season begins[2]. Hibs have also made an agreement to play Barcelona at Murrayfield Stadium on July 24[3] and arranged friendlies against Scottish Football League clubs Raith Rovers and Clyde[4].

[edit] Intertoto Cup

Hibs have entered what will be the last Intertoto Cup competition. Hibs will enter at the second round stage, and have been drawn to play either IF Elfsborg or HB Torshavn[5].

If Hibs win that tie they would play one of Bohemians, Rhyl, FK Riga or Fylkir in the final Intertoto round.

[edit] Transfers

Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
Hibernian home kit (2008-09)
Team colours Team colours Team colours
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Hibernian away kit (2008-09)

There is expected to be something of a clear-out of players during the 2008 summer transfer window by Hibernian. Manager Mixu Paatelainen has publicly stated that he wants to reduce the size of the first team squad from 32 players to around 25 players[6]. Paatelainen began this process by releasing four players who had been out on loan during the 2007-08 season. He then also released left-back Abderraouf Zarabi, who had only been signed a few months previously[7].

Key midfielder Guillaume Beuzelin signed for Coventry City under freedom of contract on June 2.

The only player who is definitely signed for the 2008-09 season is right-back David van Zanten, who has made an agreement to sign for Hibs when his contract with St. Mirren expires. Fabián Yantorno has been given access to Hibs' medical facilities with a view to him signing when he has recovered from a long-term injury sustained whilst playing for Gretna.[8]

[edit] Players In

Player From Fee
Flag of Ireland David van Zanten[9] St. Mirren Free

[edit] Players Out

Player To Fee
Flag of France Mickaël Antoine-Curier[10] Dundee Free
Flag of Northern Ireland Dermot McCaffrey[11] Falkirk Free
Flag of France Patrick Noubissie[12] Free
Flag of Canada Keegan Ayre Free
Flag of Algeria Abderraouf Zarabi[13] Free
Flag of France Guillaume Beuzelin Coventry City Free

[edit] Fixtures & Results

Listed below are the fixtures and results for Hibernian during the 2008-09 season.

The kick-off times are 3pm local time unless stated otherwise.

Scores written Hibs first.

Date Venue Opponents Score Competition Hibs scorers Match Report Attendance
July 6, 2008[14] Easter Road, Edinburgh TBA Intertoto Cup
R2 L1
July 12, 2008 TBA TBA Intertoto Cup
R2 L2
July 15, 2008 (7.45pm) Stark's Park, Kirkcaldy Raith Rovers Friendly
July 24, 2008 (7.45pm) Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Barcelona Friendly
July 30, 2008 (7.30pm) Broadwood Stadium, Cumbernauld Clyde Friendly
August 2, 2008 Easter Road, Edinburgh Middlesbrough Friendly
August 5, 2008 Easter Road, Edinburgh Wigan Athletic Friendly

[edit] Notes

[edit] Links

Preceded by
2007-08
Hibernian F.C. seasons
2008-09
Succeeded by
2009-10