Hibs will play either Drogheda United or Malmo in the second qualifying round of the Europa League with the fixtures taking place on 18th and 25th July.
Drogheda currently sit eighth in the Airtricity League of Ireland on 19 points from 17 games, and play their home game at the 2000 capacity Hunky Dorys Park.
Malmo FF are generally considered to be the biggest and most successful team in Sweden, having won 16 titles and 14 cups in their 102 year history. In 1979 they reached the European Champions Cup final where they lost 1-0 to Brian Clough’s Nottingham Forrest. Current England boss Roy Hodgson managed the club between 1985 and 1990, winning five consecutive championships.
They play their home games at the Swedbank Stadion which holds 24,000 and are currently fourth in the top division in Sweden.
The two teams meet on Thursday 4th and Thursday 11th July and the winners will meet Hibs the following week. The first leg should be in either Ireland or Sweden; however that is subject to change. The return leg will take place on 25th July and ticket details will be announced in due course.
Hibs boss Pat Fenlon is no stranger to the ‘Drogs’ having faced them 15 times as manager of Bohemians, winning an impressive 14.
The Easter Road side have previously faced Malmo in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup in 1970, winning 3-2 in Sweden, then 6-0 at Easter Road when Joe McBride scored a hat-trick.
John graduated from Telford College in 2010 with an HNC in Practical Journalism and since then he worked for the North Edinburgh News, The Southern Reporter, the Irish News Review and The Edinburgh Reporter. In addition he has been published in the Edinburgh Evening News and the Hibernian FC Programme.
