Hibs appoint Shaun Maloney as new manager

Last updated : 20 December 2021 By Steve Forbes

Hibs have today confirmed the appointment of Shaun Maloney as the new manager of the club.

Maloney has left his job as Assistant Manager of the Belgian national side, under Roberto Martinez, to replace Jack Ross at Easter Road.

The 38-year-old former Celtic, Wigan Athletic and Aston Villa striker has signed a 3-and-a-half-year-deal in Leith.

Maloney has arrived with his own management team that includes former Hibs defender Gary Caldwell as assistant manger, Valerio Zuddas (First Team Coach and Conditioning) and Brian Doogan (Head of Technical Support)

David Gray (First Team Coach) and Craig Samson (Goalkeeping Coach) have kept their jobs from the previous regime.

Hibs CEO Ben Kensell, speaking to the official club website said:

“We are very happy to welcome Shaun as our new manager, in what is undoubtedly a very important appointment for Hibernian FC.

“Our recruitment for a new manager has been thorough, strategic, and centered around the clear vision we have for this football club.

“We wanted to acquire a manager who has an attacking mentality, who’s progressive, and someone who is hungry for the opportunity to build something here at this big club.

“Shaun has been the standout candidate throughout this process as his idea of football is completely aligned with ours and the history of this football club. He believes in attacking, possession-based football, and has implemented it at the highest level with Roberto Martínez at Belgium.

“He is also a coach that wants to develop the players we have at this football club, as we have assembled a good squad. He’s aligned with our focus on bringing through young talent through our development team and wants to work with young players.

“Shaun’s a young coach and this is a big opportunity for him to show what we can do. We will support him in the upcoming transfer windows to help him achieve our ambitions here.

“We have real belief in Shaun, and he has huge belief in himself. He is determined to bring success here at Hibernian FC.”

Speaking to Hibs TV Maloney added:

“The connection between us and the supporters is key at the start. We have to try and look to excite and inspire the fans.

“I want to try and implement a style which I believe is the best way to win, it is not just for style’s sake – I really believe it is the best way to win and excite the fans at the same time.

“We have to inspire the players to play a certain way and hopefully build a connection between myself, the players and the fans.”

“I always felt there was a different way of playing when I was a player myself. In my late twenties, when we played against top teams and other nations I began to get exposed to different styles of play. Roberto Martinez was a big influence on me at that stage in my career and more recently in the last few years with Belgium.

“That influence has given me a deep desire to create a different style in Scotland.

“I am very open-minded, I obviously have my own ideas on the best way to win football matches. How quickly I can implement that time will tell.

"I am really excited to work with the players, we have some very talented and technical players. Hopefully the way we play will show that even more but we have to compete, we have to fight in every game, every training session and every moment if we want to achieve.”

Hibernian-Mad View:

It's good to see a manager finally in place at Easter Road.

Maloney has plenty of experience in the Scottish game, so will know all about the club.

It's his first job as a manager, hopefully everyone gets behind him, starting with his first game in charge, against Aberdeen at Easter Road this midweek.

Welcome to the Hibees Shaun.

Tell us what you think on our forum HERE