March 18th marks the 10th anniversary of Hibernian’s CIS League Cup final victory over Kilmarnock at Hampden Park and the Edinburgh Reporter finds out what happened to the players who took part in that epic game and speaks to fans’ favourite David Murphy about his memories of that glorious day.
Andy McNeil was released by Hibs and subsequently played for Montrose, Raith Rovers, Livingston, Waibob United, Hawkes Bay Island, Airdrie, Alloa and Morton. Earlier this year he became a reserve goalkeeping coach with Chinese Super League side Guangzhou R&F.
Steven Whittaker joined Rangers for a reported fee of £2m. At Ibrox he won three League titles, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups before moving to Norwich City when Rangers went into administration. At Carrow Road he helped Norwich to promotion via the play-offs.
David Murphy joined Birmingham City for a reported fee of £1m and won a League Cup winners medal as an unused substitute in City’s victory over Arsenal. He was forced to retire from the game due to injuries.
Chris Hogg was freed by Hibs and joined Inverness Caledonian Thistle where he spent three years before joining Needham Market. He is currently an U18 Coach with Ipswich Town.
Rob Jones moved to Scunthorpe for an undisclosed record fee. He later moved to Sheffield Wednesday, Doncaster and Hartlepool where he is currently a first team player/coach.
Guillaume ‘Boozy’ Beuzelin left Hibs when his contract ended and joined Coventry City before returning to Scotland with Hamilton Academicals then Greece with Olympiakos Nicosia. After retiring he became a coach at Stirling University, Hibernian Under 14s and is currently a first team coach under Martin Canning at New Douglas Park.
Lewis Stevenson is the only member of the Cup winning team to still be at Easter Road. He has played over 300 games for the club and last year was awarded a testimonial. The likeable Fifer made history by becoming the only Hibs’ player to have won two national cups whilst at the club.
Scott Brown moved to Celtic for a reported £4m and is now the club captain. He has won an impressive six League titles, two Scottish Cups and two League Cups with the Hoops. Until recently Scott captained his country and to date he has 51 caps.
Ivan Sproule is best remembered for his second half hat-trick against Rangers at Ibrox. The speedy winger moved to Bristol City for £500,000 then after a couple of loan spells returned to Easter Road under Colin Calderwood. He joined Ross County before returning to Northern Ireland with Linfield. Ivan official retired last summer. He won 11 caps including one in the famous 1-0 win over England.
Steven Fletcher joined Burnley for £3m then moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers for £6.5m and later Sunderland for £12m. After a spell on loan in France he joined Sheffield Wednesday where he currently plays. He won 30 caps for Scotland and became the first player to score a hat-trick since Colin Stein in 1969.
Abdessalam ‘Benji’ Benjelloun left Hibs for a loan spell with Charleroi before signing for Ismaily SC. He has subsequently played for Moroccan sides Raja Casablanca, Wydad de Fez, FUS Rabat and FAR Rabat. He retired from the game two years ago and his current whereabouts are unknown.
Manager John Collins resigned after a dispute with the board then had a brief spell as manager of Charleroi in 2009. He was appointed director of football at Livingston in February 2012, but resigned a year later. He then assisted Ronny Deila at Celtic for two years, winning two League titles.
David Murphy recalled his time at Easter Road fondly saying: “ I loved my time at Hibs. When I moved north to Scotland I was a 20-year-old kid, but that move turned me into a man. The team was full of youngsters such as Scott Brown, Steven Whittaker, Kevin Thomson, Steven Fletcher, Garry O’Connor and Derek Riordan and it really was a very special time in my life.
“There was a great team spirit and whenever we bump into each other it’s as if we have never been apart. I still see Rob Jones regularly as he lives close by.
“The League Cup Final was special for me as it was my first trophy. The celebrations at full time were fantastic. I remember standing on the pitch with Benji, waiting to be interviewed for television when they played ‘Sunshine on Leith’ and everyone sang along. It was a real ‘tingler’ and I still get goose bumps thinking about it.
“It’s frightening to think that ‘youngster’ Lewis Stevenson has now qualified for a testimonial but he deserves it as he is Hibs through and through and has been a great servant to the club.”
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.
