Former Hibs boss Alex Miller: Stubbs has become a legend

Alex Miller managed Hibs between 1986 and 1996 but never got past the Scottish Cup semi-finals

The 66-year-old was at Hampden to see the Easter Road club, whom he managed between 1986 and 1996, defeat Rangers, the club he spent 15 years with as a player.

As someone who had a decade’s worth of attempts to banish Hibs’ infamous Scottish Cup hoodoo, he understood the magnitude of what Stubbs achieved as he became the manager to end a 114-year wait to land the old trophy.

“I was delighted for Alan,” Miller told the Evening News. “He’s the guy who finally won the Scottish Cup, so he deserves all the plaudits he gets. He’ll be spoken of for years to come as the man who broke the Scottish Cup hoodoo. Congratulations to him and his backroom team. We tried to break the hoodoo when I was there but couldn’t get past the semi-final in my time there so it’s a great achievement. He’s become a legend.”

Miller has been impressed with the way Stubbs has revived Hibs over the last two years after a period of malaise which culminated in relegation two years ago.

“Alan’s shown he’s a good manager,” he said. “I think he’s done a very good job under difficult circumstances. He’s galvanised Hibs since he came in. He’s a methodical manager who has a good rapport with his players. He’s made some good signings, particularly John McGinn, and his team play good football.

“He was in a league with a very good Hearts team last year and now a very good Rangers team this year so it was always going to be hard to get promoted. They were unfortunate against Falkirk in the play-offs and Alan will have had to work hard to lift his players for the cup final because that game would have been a sickener for them.”

Miller was thrilled to see his old club finally enjoy their day in the sun, even though it came at the expense of another of his old teams.

“I had a lot of experience with both clubs but I was delighted for Hibs,” he said. “It was a fantastic achievement for the club because none of the supporters had ever seen them lift that cup. It’s great for the support. I’ve got neighbours who have been going for years following Hibs, and it’s people like that you’re pleased for. On the day Hibs were the better team – I don’t think anybody could disagree with that.”