2001–02 Hibernian F.C. season

Season 2001–02 was a turbulent one for Hibernian, as the team had three different permanent managers during the season. Alex McLeish left the club in December to manage Rangers; Hibs surprisingly replaced him with star player Franck Sauzée, who retired as a player when he was appointed manager. Sauzee's brief tenure saw a long winless run in the SPL and domestic cup defeats by Rangers and Ayr United. The winless run in the league dragged Hibs into the fringes of a relegation battle, and Sauzee was sacked after just 69 days in charge.[3] Kilmarnock manager Bobby Williamson was hired as Sauzee's replacement, and a brief winning run averted any danger of relegation. Earlier in the season, Hibs had been knocked out of the UEFA Cup in the first round by AEK Athens, but only after a dramatic second leg at Easter Road that went to extra time.

Hibernian
2001–02 season
ChairmanMalcolm McPherson[1]
ManagerAlex McLeish
(until 13 December 2001)
Franck Sauzée
(December 2001 – February 2002)
Bobby Williamson
(from February 2002)
SPL10th
Scottish CupR4
League CupSemi
UEFA CupR1
Top goalscorerLeague: O'Connor, 9
All: Luna, 10
Highest home attendance14701[2]
Lowest home attendance7701[2]
Average home league attendance11603[2] (up 810)

League season

Hibs began the 2001–02 league season in reasonable form, winning convincingly against Dunfermline Athletic and St Johnstone on successive Sundays in September. A poor run of one win in nine followed their elimination from the UEFA Cup, however, leaving Hibs in eighth place in the 12 team SPL.[4] Nonetheless, manager Alex McLeish, who had guided Hibs to promotion back to the top flight in 1998–99, third place in 2000–01 and the 2001 Scottish Cup Final, was linked with the Rangers job when it was indicated that the incumbent, Dick Advocaat, would be moved to another role within that club.[4] A few days later, McLeish was unveiled as Rangers manager, with Hibs and Rangers still negotiating over compensation.[5] Donald Park managed the team on a caretaker basis for a 1–1 draw against Rangers the following day, and Franck Sauzee was swiftly appointed as manager two days later.[6] Park was also promoted from the role of reserve team manager to assistant manager.[6] BBC Sport commented:[6]

the speed of the appointment will come as a surprise considering the Easter Road board only met on Thursday night with a view to drawing up a shortlist and because the Frenchman has no previous coaching experience.

Hibs were already on a poor run of form when Sauzee was appointed, and this was greatly extended during his time in charge.[7] After just 69 days in the job, Sauzee was sacked by Hibs.[3] Another factor appeared to be that the last place club, St Johnstone, had just won a game and reduced the gap between the clubs to nine points, with Hibs due to play the Perth club in their next game.[7] Sauzee spoke to the media after his dismissal, insisting that he was not worried that Hibs may be relegated.[7] Two days later, Hibs agreed a deal with Bobby Williamson to be the new manager, subject to compensation being agreed with Kilmarnock.[8] In Williamson's first game in charge, the key match with St. Johnstone, Hibs won 3–0 and all but ensured their survival in the SPL.[9] The result gave Hibs their first win in 19 SPL games, since an Edinburgh derby win in October.[9] Despite the positive result, some of the Hibs supporters chanted Sauzee's name.[9] The match reporter writing in The Observer reckoned that this was a sarcastic criticism of the Hibs board's decisions in hiring and then so quickly firing Sauzee.[9] Further wins towards the end of the season meant that Hibs, although finishing in a lowly 10th, ended up 20 points ahead of St Johnstone.

Results
28 July 2001 SPLHibernian2 – 2KilmarnockEaster Road, Edinburgh
Sauzee  39' (pen.)
Laursen  82'		 Ngonge  4'
Cocard  45'		 Attendance: 12,717
Referee: Somers
4 August 2001 SPLDundee2 – 1HibernianDens Park, Dundee
Sara  9'
Caballero  62'		 O'Neil  59' Attendance: 9,447
Referee: Dallas
11 August 2001 SPLHibernian2 – 0AberdeenEaster Road, Edinburgh
Sauzee  6' (pen.)
McManus  45'		 Attendance: 13,150
Referee: Rowbotham
18 August 2001 SPLRangers2 – 2HibernianIbrox Stadium, Glasgow
Hughes  26'
Flo  49'		 McManus  19'
Orman  59'		 Attendance: 45,540
Referee: Underhill
25 August 2001 SPLHibernian1 – 4CelticEaster Road, Edinburgh
Fenwick  85' Moravcik  16'
Sutton  17'
Sutton  20'
Larsson  31'		 Attendance: 14,701
Referee: Clark
8 September 2001 SPLMotherwell1 – 3HibernianFir Park, Motherwell
Kelly  15' (pen.) Sauzee  17' (pen.), 50'
Fenwick  66'		 Attendance: 5,784
Referee: Dougal
16 September 2001 SPLHibernian5 – 1Dunfermline AthleticEaster Road, Edinburgh
Brewster  18'
Brewster  32'
McManus  45'
Luna  73'
Luna  82'		 Crawford  38' Attendance: 11,035
Referee: Dallas
23 September 2001 SPLHibernian4 – 0St JohnstoneEaster Road, Edinburgh
Luna  25'
Fenwick  57'
Brebner  59'
Smart  62'		 Attendance: 10,404
Referee: McDonald
30 September 2001 SPLLivingston1 – 0HibernianAlmondvale, Livingston
Quino  64' Attendance: 10,016
Referee: Orr
13 October 2001 SPLDundee United3 – 1HibernianTannadice Park, Dundee
Hamilton  65'
Hamilton  71'
Griffin  84'		 Brebner  4' Attendance: 7,950
Referee: Underhill
21 October 2001 SPLHibernian2 – 1Heart of MidlothianEaster Road, Edinburgh
de la Cruz  1'
de la Cruz  24'		 Simmons  66' Attendance: 13,774
Referee: McCurry
27 October 2001 SPLHibernian1 – 2DundeeEaster Road, Edinburgh
Brewster  45' Rae  19'
Milne  90'		 Attendance: 11,130
Referee: Young
3 November 2001 SPLKilmarnock0 – 0HibernianRugby Park, Kilmarnock
Attendance: 7,460
Referee: Brown
17 November 2001 SPLAberdeen2 – 0HibernianPittodrie Stadium, Aberdeen
Winters  90'
Zerouali  90'		 Attendance: 12,226
Referee: Clark
24 November 2001 SPLHibernian0 – 3LivingstonEaster Road, Edinburgh
Xausa  8'
Xausa  34'
Lowndes  86'		 Attendance: 11,146
Referee: Fyfe
1 December 2001 SPLCeltic3 – 0HibernianCeltic Park, Glasgow
Hartson  11'
Hartson  40'
Lennon  72'		 Attendance: 59,415
Referee: Young
8 December 2001 SPLHibernian1 – 1MotherwellEaster Road, Edinburgh
O'Neil  7' Elliott  83' Attendance: 11,158
Referee: Somers
12 December 2001 SPLRangers1 – 1HibernianIbrox Stadium, Glasgow
Ricksen  58' Luna  22' Attendance: 46,179
Referee: Rowbotham
15 December 2001 SPLDunfermline Athletic1 – 0HibernianEast End Park, Dunfermline
Nicholson  74' Attendance: 6,617
Referee: McDonald
22 December 2001 SPLSt Johnstone0 – 0HibernianMcDiarmid Park, Perth
Attendance: 4,056
Referee: Toner
26 December 2001 SPLHibernian0 – 3RangersEaster Road, Edinburgh
Moore  16'
Flo  85'
Arveladze  88' (pen.)		 Attendance: 14,021
Referee: McCurry
29 December 2001 SPLHeart of Midlothian1 – 1HibernianTynecastle, Edinburgh
McKenna  11' O'Neil  90' Attendance: 17,474
Referee: Dougal
2 January 2002 SPLHibernian0 – 1Dundee UnitedEaster Road, Edinburgh
Paterson  87' Attendance: 11,155
Referee: McDonald
12 January 2002 SPLDundee1 – 0HibernianDens Park, Dundee
Fan  66' Attendance: 7,326
Referee: Somers
19 January 2002 SPLHibernian2 – 2KilmarnockEaster Road, Edinburgh
Hurtado  11'
Fowler  63' (o.g.)		 Johnson  65'
McGowne  90'		 Attendance: 9,592
Referee: Clark
23 January 2002 SPLHibernian3 – 4AberdeenEaster Road, Edinburgh
Luna  18'
Townsley  36'
Luna  68'		 Dadi  17'
Winters  28'
Guntveit  48'
Mackie  90'		 Attendance: 10,555
Referee: Dallas
2 February 2002 SPLHibernian1 – 1CelticEaster Road, Edinburgh
O'Connor  21' Hartson  50' Attendance: 12,315
Referee: Freeland
9 February 2002 SPLMotherwell4 – 0HibernianFir Park, Motherwell
Ferrere  53'
Ferrere  66'
Lehmann  73'
Ferrere  81'		 Attendance: 5,367
Referee: Dougal
16 February 2002 SPLHibernian1 – 1Dunfermline AthleticEaster Road, Edinburgh
Townsley  79' Hampshire  59' Attendance: 9,788
Referee: McCurry
2 March 2002 SPLHibernian3 – 0St JohnstoneEaster Road, Edinburgh
Murray  2'
Murray  37'
O'Connor  67'		 Attendance: 13,731
Referee: Rowbotham
9 March 2002 SPLLivingston0 – 3HibernianAlmondvale, Livingston
O'Connor  15'
O'Neil  45'
Petersen  78' (o.g.)		 Attendance: 6,463
Referee: Toner
16 March 2002 SPLHibernian1 – 2Heart of MidlothianEaster Road, Edinburgh
O'Connor  5' Severin  40'
Pressley  88' (pen.)		 Attendance: 13,240
Referee: Young
23 March 2002 SPLDundee United1 – 2HibernianTannadice Park, Dundee
Thompson  77' Arpinon  38'
O'Connor  73'		 Attendance: 5,801
Referee: Toner
7 April 2002 SPLDundee United2 – 1HibernianTannadice Park, Dundee
Venetis  45'
Lilley  55'		 O'Connor  65' Attendance: 5,417
Referee: Brown
13 April 2002 SPLKilmarnock1 – 0HibernianRugby Park, Kilmarnock
Ngonge  18' Attendance: 6,236
Referee: Somers
21 April 2002 SPLHibernian4 – 0MotherwellEaster Road, Edinburgh
Townsley  27'
Arpinon  45'
O'Connor  81'
O'Connor  85'		 Attendance: 7,701
Referee: Freeland
27 April 2002 SPLHibernian2 – 2DundeeEaster Road, Edinburgh
Townsley  15'
O'Connor  76'		 Caballero  33'
Milne  88'		 Attendance: 8,852
Referee: Dougal
12 May 2002 SPLSt Johnstone0 – 1HibernianMcDiarmid Park, Perth
Townsley  43' Attendance: 3,372
Referee: Thomson

Final table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation[lower-alpha 1]
8 Dundee United 38 12 10 16 38 59 −21 46
9 Dundee 38 12 8 18 41 55 −14 44
10 Hibernian 38 10 11 17 51 56 −5 41
11 Motherwell 38 11 7 20 49 69 −20 40
12 St Johnstone 38 5 6 27 24 62 −38 21 Relegation to the First Division
Source: Scottish Professional Football League
Rules for classification: (1) Points; (2) Goal difference; (3) Goals scored
Notes:
  1. Teams played each other three times (33 matches), before the league split into two groups (the top six and the bottom six) for the last five matches.

UEFA Cup

Having finished third in the previous season's Scottish Premier League, Hibs entered the UEFA Cup at the first round stage. The first leg against AEK Athens was scheduled to be played on 13 September 2001, but this was postponed by UEFA in light of the terrorist attacks on 11 September.[10] This decision was taken even though UEFA admitted that there was "no evidence" of security threats to the venues concerned, and despite the fact that matches on the evening of 11 September were allowed to proceed.[10] Given the lateness of the decision, many Hibs fans had already travelled to Greece and were left out of pocket without a match to attend.[11] The team themselves were on the runway at Edinburgh Airport when the decision from UEFA was advised to them.[11] UEFA announced later that day that the UEFA Cup games scheduled to be played on 13 September would instead be played on 20 September.[12]

When the match was finally played, Hibs suffered a 2–0 defeat in the "disrespectful" atmosphere of the Nikos Goumas Stadium.[13] The match reporter for The Scotsman observed that:[13]

the minute’s silence before kick-off in memory of those murdered in the recent terrorist atrocities was sabotaged by those wild incumbents of the notorious skepasti - "the covered ones" - end of the stadium, who whistled and jeered throughout, and then burnt the stars and stripes for good measure.

Hibs appeared to miss the "calming influence" of Franck Sauzee, who had been injured in the preceding league match.[13] Although AEK created few chances in the early proceedings, a penalty kick early in the second half gave them the lead.[13] A second goal from a header by Nikolaidis and the lack of an away goal left Hibs facing a "formidable challenge" to progress.[13]

Sauzee returned for the second leg at Easter Road, while AEK made a few changes.[14] Hibs had the early pressure but failed to score until the 53rd minute, when Paco Luna headed in from close range.[14] Hibs then pressed to bring the aggregate score level at 2–2, but again lost Sauzee to injury with 10 minutes remaining.[14] Nonetheless, Hibs were level a minute later, with Luna again scoring.[14] Hibs then had a great chance to win the tie in the last minute of normal time, but Luna headed wide from a de la Cruz cross.[14] With the aggregate score level and no away goals scored by either side, the tie headed into extra time.[14] AEK regrouped during the break before the extra periods, and Tsiartas scored early on from long range.[14] This left Hibs needing two goals without reply to win the tie, given the away goals rule. Tsiartas then added another goal for AEK from a corner, leaving Hibs with almost no chance to progress.[14] David Zitelli then scored what was effectively a consolation goal, but at least gave Hibs a win on the night.[14] Despite exiting the competition, the second leg match is still fondly remembered by Hibs supporters; Dougray Scott later named it as his favourite match.[15]

Results
20 September 2001 UEFA CupAEK Athens2 – 0HibernianNikos Goumas Stadium, Athens
Tsiartas  54' (pen.)
Nikolaidis  66'		 Attendance: 15,525
Referee: Hanacsek
27 September 2001 UEFA CupHibernian3 – 2 AET
3 – 4 agg		AEK AthensEaster Road, Edinburgh
Luna  52'
Luna  82'
Zitelli  114'		 Tsiartas  92'
Tsiartas  105'		 Attendance: 16,647
Referee: Granat

Scottish League Cup

As one of the SPL clubs who qualified for European competition, Hibs entered at the last 16 stage (third round) of the competition, in which they defeated Raith Rovers 2–0. Another 2–0 win, against Dundee United at Easter Road, sent Hibs through to the semi-final. By the time the semi-final was played, Alex McLeish had departed and Franck Sauzee was now the manager. The shock 1–0 defeat by First Division club Ayr United in the semi-final was cited as one of the causes of Sauzee's dismissal later that month.[3]

Results
9 October 2001 Scottish League CupRaith Rovers0 – 2HibernianStark's Park, Kirkcaldy
Brewster  54'
Brewster  86'		 Attendance: 4,601
Referee: McDonald
27 November 2001 Scottish League CupHibernian2 – 0Dundee UnitedEaster Road, Edinburgh
McManus  2'
Luna  61'		 Attendance: 8,825
Referee: Toner
6 February 2002 Scottish League CupHibernian0 – 1
AET		Ayr UnitedHampden Park, Glasgow
Annand  101' (pen.) Attendance: 11,779
Referee: McCurry

Scottish Cup

Hibs' brief Scottish Cup campaign during 2001–02 came during the period that Franck Sauzee was manager. It transpired that the victory in the third round replay against Stranraer, a Second Division club, was to be Sauzee's only win as Hibs manager.[3] Hibs were heavily defeated by Rangers, now managed by Alex McLeish, in the last 16.

Results
5 January 2002 Scottish CupStranraer0 – 0HibernianStair Park, Stranraer
Attendance: 2,259
Referee: Young
15 January 2002 Scottish CupHibernian4 – 0StranraerEaster Road, Edinburgh
Luna  6'
Zitelli  15' (pen)
Smith  47'
Hurtado  88'		 Attendance: 8,536
Referee: Young
26 January 2002 Scottish CupRangers4 – 1HibernianIbrox Stadium, Glasgow
Flo  23'
Løvenkrands  45'
Flo  65'
Dodds  86'		 Brebner  28' Attendance: 25,636
Referee: Rowbotham

Transfers

Hibs broke their transfer record during the 2001 close season with the purchase of Ecuadorian international player Ulises de la Cruz, paying £700,000 for his services.[16] Hibs manager Alex McLeish later claimed that the fee was "more like" £350,000.[17]

Player stats

During the 2001–02 season, Hibs used 32 different players in competitive games. The table below shows the number of appearances and goals scored by each player.[19]

No. Pos Nat Player TotalSPLScottish CupLeague CupUEFA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Tony Caig 10080002000
GK Nick Colgan 360300301020
DF Gary Caldwell 120110001000
DF Allan Dempsie 3030000000
DF Ulises de la Cruz 392322302020
DF Paul Fenwick 293223302020
DF Paul Hilland 3030000000
DF Ulrik Laursen 311241302020
DF Lilian Martin 1010000000
DF Franck Sauzee 114104000010
DF Gary Smith 361300312010
DF Steven Whittaker 1010000000
MF Lyndon Andrews 2020000000
MF Frederic Arpinon 232202201000
MF Grant Brebner 353282313010
MF Mathias Jack 360310201020
MF Ian Murray 402322303020
MF Kevin Nicol 2020000000
MF John O'Neil 384324103020
MF Alen Orman 361301103020
MF Alan Reid 2020000000
MF Derek Townsley 225185301000
MF Jarkko Wiss 120110001000
FW Craig Brewster 285253001220
FW Frederic Daquin 2020000000
FW Eduardo Hurtado 152121211000
FW Paco Luna 3010256212112
FW Tam McManus 264213102120
FW Garry O'Connor 249199302000
FW Derek Riordan 9060201000
FW Allan Smart 5151000000
FW David Zitelli 272210212021

See also

References
  1. Hardie, David (1 October 2011). "Ex-Hibs chief recalls day he sacked Sauzee". Edinburgh Evening News. Johnston Press. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 1 October 2011.
  2. "Average Home League Game Attendances". fitbastats.com. Retrieved 4 November 2013.
  3. "Hibs sack Sauzee". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 February 2002.
  4. "Gers step up manager search". BBC Sport. BBC. 9 December 2001.
  5. "Rangers unveil McLeish". BBC Sport. BBC. 11 December 2001.
  6. "Hibs choose Sauzee". BBC Sport. BBC. 14 December 2001.
  7. "No Sauzee fears for Hibs". BBC Sport. BBC. 21 February 2002.
  8. "Williamson agrees to take job". The Scotsman. 23 February 2002.
  9. "Murray ends famine". The Observer. 3 March 2002.
  10. "Football: UEFA postpone European ties". Daily Mail. 12 September 2001.
  11. "Hibs faithful fear they won't receive any compensation". Edinburgh Evening News. 13 September 2001.
  12. "UEFA finds new dates for postponed games". The Daily Telegraph. Telegraph Media Group. 12 September 2001.
  13. "Hibs pay penalty with gifts for Greeks". The Scotsman. 21 September 2001.
  14. "Hibs crash in extra time". BBC Sport. BBC. 27 September 2001.
  15. "My team: Hibernian". The Observer. 2 March 2003.
  16. "Hibs unveil record buy". BBC Sport. BBC. 18 June 2001.
  17. "O'Connor out injured: Chala in?". BBC Sport. BBC. 6 August 2001.
  18. Womersley, Tara (30 April 2002). "Promising Hibernian FC player dies from suspected drug overdose after night out". Edinburgh Evening News. Retrieved 9 February 2010.
  19. "Hibernian 2001/2002 player appearances". Soccerbase. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
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