Paul Hanlon
Encyclopedia
Paul Hanlon is a Scottish
footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League
club Hibernian
as a defender
. He is also the current club vice-captain. Hanlon has also represented Scotland at under 19
and is the current under 21
squad captain.
youth football club Hutchison Vale, along with future Hibs teammate Danny Galbraith
. Hanlon was an attacking midfielder who scored plenty of goals in youth football, but was converted to a defensive position after he signed for Hibs
. He played his first senior game for Hibs on 12 January 2008, against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup
, due to injuries sustained by David Murphy
and Lewis Stevenson. Hanlon played for Hibs on a regular basis over the next seven months, and he agreed a five year contract with the club.
During the 2008–09 season, however, Hanlon was replaced by Ian Murray as Hibs' regular left back. Hanlon was loaned out to St. Johnstone in December 2008, initially for one month. St. Johnstone wanted to extend the loan arrangement, but Hibs refused to allow this. Hanlon went straight back into the Hibs team after returning from St. Johnstone, but he was dropped soon afterwards by Mixu Paatelainen
due to a defensive error he made in a match against Kilmarnock
.
Hanlon played infrequently during the 2009–10 season, only featuring when one of the regular defenders has been unavailable. One such period was when Sol Bamba was with the Ivory Coast national team at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations; manager
John Hughes described the decision to reinstate Bamba to the team at Hanlon's expense as one of the toughest decisions he has had to make in the job. At the end of the season, Hughes commented that Hanlon was a "great" footballer, but needed to become tougher and show more desire.
Hughes again praised Hanlon before the start of the 2010–11 season, saying that he had a "real future" in the game and had the potential to play in the Premier League. Following the departure of Chris Hogg
, Hanlon captained the team at times. Hanlon agreed a new contract with the club in May 2011.
, and made his debut at under–21 level
in a 1–0 win against Albania
in March 2009. Hanlon was a regular in central defence
during the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
campaign, which ended in a play-off defeat by Iceland.
Hanlon then captained an inexperienced side in November 2010 as head coach
Billy Stark
made initial preparations for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification campaign. He scored the second goal in a 3–1 win for Scotland in a friendly match against Northern Ireland
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League
Scottish Premier League
The Scottish Premier League , also known as the SPL , is a professional league competition for association football clubs in Scotland...
club Hibernian
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
as a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
. He is also the current club vice-captain. Hanlon has also represented Scotland at under 19
Scotland national under-19 football team
The Scotland national under-19 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national football team for players of 19 years of age or under at the start of a European Under-19 Football Championship campaign....
and is the current under 21
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
squad captain.
Club career
Hanlon played for the well known EdinburghEdinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
youth football club Hutchison Vale, along with future Hibs teammate Danny Galbraith
Danny Galbraith
Daniel James "Danny" Galbraith is a Scottish professional football player who is currently playing for Scottish Premier League side Hibernian.-Manchester United:...
. Hanlon was an attacking midfielder who scored plenty of goals in youth football, but was converted to a defensive position after he signed for Hibs
Hibernian F.C.
Hibernian Football Club are a Scottish professional football club based in Leith, in the north of Edinburgh. They are one of two Scottish Premier League clubs in the city, the other being their Edinburgh derby rivals, Hearts...
. He played his first senior game for Hibs on 12 January 2008, against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup
Scottish Cup
The Scottish Football Association Challenge Cup,, commonly known as the Scottish Cup or the William Hill Scottish Cup for sponsorship purposes, is the main national cup competition in Scottish football. It is a knockout cup competition run by and named after the Scottish Football Association.The...
, due to injuries sustained by David Murphy
David Murphy (footballer)
David Paul Murphy is an English professional footballer who plays for Birmingham City. Murphy, born in Hartlepool, County Durham, is a defender who plays at left back.-Club career:...
and Lewis Stevenson. Hanlon played for Hibs on a regular basis over the next seven months, and he agreed a five year contract with the club.
During the 2008–09 season, however, Hanlon was replaced by Ian Murray as Hibs' regular left back. Hanlon was loaned out to St. Johnstone in December 2008, initially for one month. St. Johnstone wanted to extend the loan arrangement, but Hibs refused to allow this. Hanlon went straight back into the Hibs team after returning from St. Johnstone, but he was dropped soon afterwards by Mixu Paatelainen
Mixu Paatelainen
Mika-Matti Petteri "Mixu" Paatelainen is a former Finnish international football player and the current manager of the Finnish national team, having started the role in April 2011...
due to a defensive error he made in a match against Kilmarnock
Kilmarnock F.C.
Kilmarnock Football Club is a Scottish football team based in the town of Kilmarnock, Ayrshire. Founded in 1869, "Killie" is the oldest club currently in the Scottish Premier League. Home matches are played at Rugby Park...
.
Hanlon played infrequently during the 2009–10 season, only featuring when one of the regular defenders has been unavailable. One such period was when Sol Bamba was with the Ivory Coast national team at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations; manager
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
John Hughes described the decision to reinstate Bamba to the team at Hanlon's expense as one of the toughest decisions he has had to make in the job. At the end of the season, Hughes commented that Hanlon was a "great" footballer, but needed to become tougher and show more desire.
Hughes again praised Hanlon before the start of the 2010–11 season, saying that he had a "real future" in the game and had the potential to play in the Premier League. Following the departure of Chris Hogg
Chris Hogg
Christopher Francis "Chris" Hogg is an English footballer who plays for Scottish Premier League club Inverness Caledonian Thistle as a defender....
, Hanlon captained the team at times. Hanlon agreed a new contract with the club in May 2011.
International career
Hanlon captained Scotland at under–19 levelScotland national under-19 football team
The Scotland national under-19 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national football team for players of 19 years of age or under at the start of a European Under-19 Football Championship campaign....
, and made his debut at under–21 level
Scotland national under-21 football team
The Scotland national under-21 football team, controlled by the Scottish Football Association, is Scotland's national under 21 football team and is considered to be a feeder team for the Scotland national football team....
in a 1–0 win against Albania
Albania national under-21 football team
The Albania national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Albania and is controlled by the Football Association of Albania...
in March 2009. Hanlon was a regular in central defence
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
during the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
2011 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification
The 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship started with a qualifying competition which began on 27 March 2009 and finished on 13 October 2010. The final tournament is being held in Denmark between 11–25 June 2011....
campaign, which ended in a play-off defeat by Iceland.
Hanlon then captained an inexperienced side in November 2010 as head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
Billy Stark
Billy Stark
Billy Stark is a Scottish football former player and coach. He is currently head coach of the Scotland national under-21 football team.- Player :...
made initial preparations for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship qualification campaign. He scored the second goal in a 3–1 win for Scotland in a friendly match against Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland national under-21 football team
The Northern Ireland national under-21 football team is the national under-21 football team of Northern Ireland.-Former coaches:* To 20 August 2008.-2008/09 Matches:-Current squad:Squad to play San Marino.-Other Recent Call-Ups:...
.