The 2019–20 season was Hibernian's third consecutive season in the top tier of Scottish football, the Scottish Premiership, having been promoted from the Scottish Championship at the end of the 2016–17 season. Hibs finished seventh in the league, which was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They lost to Celtic in the semi-finals of the League Cup and Hearts in the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup.
Sir Tom Farmer sold his majority ownership of Hibs in July 2019 to American businessman Ronald Gordon, who became chairman of the club.
Results and fixtures
Friendly matches
Scottish Premiership
Despite winning their opening match, Hibs got off to a poor start to the league season. After they lost the first Edinburgh derby of the season, Hibs fan Irvine Welsh claimed that they were "favourites" for relegation.
Hibs eventually finished in seventh place. They had been in sixth place when the league season was suspended on 13 March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but were awarded seventh place due to St Johnstone having a slightly higher points average.
Scottish Cup
Hibs were drawn away to Championship leaders Dundee United in the fourth round. They won that tie after a replay and were then drawn with Lowland League (fifth tier) side BSC Glasgow. A 4–1 win put Hibs into the quarter-final, where they were given a home draw against Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle. Inverness were the only club from outside the Premiership to have reached the quarter-final.
A 5–2 win against Inverness gave Hibs a place in the semi-final, which produced an Edinburgh derby with Hearts. That match was originally scheduled for 11 April, but was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. On 21 July, the Scottish Football Association announced that the semi-finals would be played on the weekend of 31 October / 1 November 2020. Hibs lost 2–1 after extra time in the semi-final, with Kevin Nisbet missing a penalty moments before Hearts scored their winning goal (also from a penalty).
Scottish League Cup
Hibs entered the 2019–20 Scottish League Cup at the group stage, and a 2–0 win at Elgin City in their final match clinched a place in the last 16. Elgin player Kane Hester was booked during the match; he was later charged with conspiring to con betting company Bet365 by placing bets that he would receive a yellow card, but was found not proven.
Hibs were drawn at home to Championship club Greenock Morton in the last 16. Hibs needed extra time to defeat Morton and reach the quarter-finals, where they were drawn away to Kilmarnock. By winning a penalty shootout Hibs progressed to the semi-finals, where they were paired with holders Celtic.
Hibs lost 5–2 to Celtic in the semi-final. Two days later, and with the team sitting in 10th place in the league, head coach Paul Heckingbottom was sacked by Hibs.
Group stage
Knockout phase
Player statistics
! colspan=11 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers
! colspan=11 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders
! colspan=11 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders
! colspan=11 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards
! colspan=16 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Signed in 2020–21
Notes
Club statistics League table
Division summary
League Cup group table
Management statistics
NameFromToPWDLWin% (caretaker)
Transfers Including the expiry of loans, 12 first team players left Hibs after the 2018–19 season ended. Scott Allan had already been signed on a pre-contract agreement. After Josh Vela was signed in mid-July, manager Paul Heckingbottom said that his recruitment was complete "unless something unforeseen happens". After winger Martin Boyle suffered a knee injury, Glenn Middleton was signed on loan from Rangers.
Players in PlayerFromFee Scott Allan CelticFree Adam Jackson BarnsleyFree Joe Newell Rotherham UnitedFree Christian Doidge Forest Green Rovers£250,000 Tom James Yeovil TownUndisclosed Josh Vela Bolton WanderersFree Melker Hallberg Vejle BKFree Ádám Bogdán LiverpoolFree Paul McGinn St MirrenUndisclosed
Players out PlayerToFee Marvin Bartley LivingstonFree Mark Milligan Southend UnitedFree Gael Bigirimana Solihull MoorsFree Jonathan SpectorRetired Miquel Nelom Willem IIFree Ross Laidlaw Ross CountyFree Lewis Allan Raith RoversFree Josh Vela Shrewsbury TownFree Oli Shaw Ross CountyUndisclosed
Loans in
PlayerFrom Chris Maxwell Preston North End Glenn Middleton Rangers Jason Naismith Peterborough United Stéphane Oméonga Genoa Marc McNulty Reading Greg Docherty Rangers
Loans out PlayerTo Kevin Dąbrowski Cowdenbeath Tommy Block Queen's Park Jack Hodge Civil Service Strollers Callum Yeats Civil Service Strollers Jamie Gullan Raith Rovers Ben Stirling Arbroath Josh Campbell Arbroath Sean Mackie Dundee Kosovar Sadiki Finn Harps Ben Stirling Alloa Athletic Ryan Shanley Forfar Athletic Florian Kamberi Rangers Josh Doig Queen's Park Innes Murray Airdrieonians
See also List of Hibernian F.C. seasons
Notes
References