Hibs will formally introduce new Head Coach Alan Stubbs to the media tomorrow at the Club’s Training Centre, and today the Edinburgh Reporter looks back at the his career to date both north and south of the border.
Liverpudlian Stubbs started his career with Bolton Wanderers where he played in the English Third Division under Liverpool legend Phil Neal then former Scotland captain Bruce Rioch and was part of the team who won promotion in 1993.
He quickly became a fans’ favourite at Brunden Park and was made club captain, helping the Wanderers to their first ever Wembley visit where they lost narrowly to Liverpool in the League Cup final. Two months later, Bolton returned to the national stadium where Bolton came from 2-0 down to beat Reading in the play-off final and win promotion to the Premier League. Stubbs’ form for Bolton brought him to the attention of the England manager who selected him for a B international against Northern Ireland.
When Rioch moved to Arsenal, he tried to buy Stubbs, but his bid was rejected and instead the big defender joined Celtic for a record £4 million fee, where he formed a formidable partnership with Marc Rieper in the centre of the defence.
He won his first major honour in 1997 when Win Jansen’s men beat Dundee United 3–0 in the Scottish League Cup Final then played his part in Celtic’s historic championship win which denied rivals Rangers a world record 10 in a row.
Many consider the turning point in that season was his injury time equaliser against Rangers which is still talked about today at Parkhead.
A routine drug test after the Scottish Cup Final defeat to Rangers in May 1999 revealed Stubbs was suffering from testicular cancer however he returned after treatment to win another League Cup winners medal in Celtic’s 2-0 defeat of Aberdeen and another League title under Martin O’Neil.
Unfortunately the cancer returned and he made his second comeback against Hibs, scoring in a memorable 5-2 win at Easter Road. His appearance that day from the bench brought a standing ovation from both sets of supporters.
Stubbs returned to Merseyside and joined boyhood heroes Everton in July 2001 where he quickly became a regular, helping them finish seventh in the Premier League under new manager David Moyes.
After a dispute over a new contract, Stubbs signed for Sunderland on 2 August 2005 but a disastrous season saw the club relegated after finishing bottom of the league.
The Scouser failed to settle on Wearside and returned to Everton on a free transfer and proved to be a pivotal figure behind Everton’s push for a UEFA Cup place.
In January 2008, Stubbs moved to Derby County but after six months, a recurring knee injury forced him to retire.
He returned to Goodison Park as a coach under Moyes in September 2008, shortly after completing his coaching badges in Scotland.
Stubbs took the Under-21s to the national semi-finals in 2012/13 and has played a key role in the development of the likes of Ross Barkley, John Stones and Luke Garbutt – all of whom have gone on to feature in the senior Everton side.
Current manager Roberto Martinez told evertonfc.com that Stubbs’ move to Easter Road was a reflection of the quality of his work.
He said: “We wish Alan the very best of luck. The reality is when you work well and do things well, people will take notice.
“It reflects the excellent work done last season at the Club and means it has been seen from the outside as well.
“We’re proud when those individuals that are Everton through and through get noticed and are given rewards and opportunities.”
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.
