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We have reached the midfielders in our week-long series analysing the five best Hibs players in each position. We have chosen the goalkeepers and defenders.

Russell Latapy

If ever there was a player to play the game at their own pace it was Russell Latapy. He is the type of individual where the world could be going to hell around him, arguments, alarms going off, cars crashing into buildings, yet he will be his same jaunty self, completely unfazed. That’s how he approached any midfield battle, whether it was for Hibs, Rangers or Falkirk.

He arrived at second tier Hibs with quite the CV from Portuguese football and quickly became a pivotal playmaker for Alex McLeish’s side as they won promotion then followed it up with European qualification. When people talk about football being a joyous sport, full of entertainment, it is because of players like Latapy. He saw things other mere mortals didn’t. The Trinidadian could dissect defences with ease. He possessed awareness which suggested he had more than one set of eyes and he moved with such grace but also intent, keeping the ball away from pesky opponents with fantastic dribbling skills and a close control, making it seem like the ball never wanted to leave his foot until he commanded it to.

There were so many ‘Latapy moments’ but there was no better performance than the one in the 6-2 win over Hearts, the midfielder involved in four goals. Passes with the outside of his foot, slowing the game down, crafty through balls, making a mockery of the Hearts midfield before putting the icing on the cake with a wonderful volleyed strike past Antti Niemi.

Alex Cropley

At Hibs Alex Cropley went by the nickname of ‘Sodjer’. Such a moniker would suggest this man mountain, someone to be feared. Far from it. The creative midfielder was small and nimble and always sought to take the advice given to him by his father: 'Always get to the ball first'. That being said, this was a player who could more than handle himself and would put in some forceful tackles.

He was a member of the vaunted Turnbull’s Tornadoes side, bringing a lovely left foot to proceedings. His technical ability and vision saw him become one of the most promising players in Scottish football, winning two Scotland caps by the age of 20 in 1971. In 1972 he was part of the League Cup winning team and scored one of his finest goals in the 7-0 hammering of Hearts, a sweet volley past Kenny Garland

“Once upon a time he was the most coveted, diminutive No 10 in Scotland,” it was written in The Scotsman. Cropley was a special talent who perhaps didn’t hit the heights some may have hoped for due to injuries. But he kept coming back, kept putting himself in the firing line on the bench, not shirking a battle and would leave Hibs for England for a six figure sum.

Franck Sauzee

The nickname bestowed upon Franck Sauzee by the Hibs fans said it all. ‘Le God’. The Easter Road faithful must have been rubbing their eyes or wondering what the catch was when a 39-time French international arrived at the club during their one-season spell in the second tier in the 90s.

The Frenchman was transformative both on and off the pitch. His appearance suggested good times were coming back to Easter Road, a prestigious figure fans could look up. It was the same for players. He was not just a captain, he was a leader, demonstrating the standards required. He didn’t need to shout, bark or enthuse, he simply did.

There is much debate whether to class Sauzee as a midfielder or sweeper, but both have the same result: brilliance. Some of his best moments in a Hibs shirt came when he patrolled the midfield area, showing everyone that footballing ability trumps physicality and running. He mastered Hearts in the Millenium Derby at Tynecastle, eviscerating the home defence with a stunning finish into the bottom corner. Or the time he looped a header in a 3-1 win at Easter Road losing some teeth at the same time. And who can forget Sauzee making a fool of the hyped Barry Ferguson.

When players kiss the badge there is always suspicion, but when Sauzee planted lips on the Hibs crest you knew he meant it.

John McGinn

The ball is rolled into his feet. He tempts opponents into his space. Then he spins, using his bahookie to back in and propel him forward. Followed by that unique running style, like someone getting off a helicopter, as he careers forward, evading opposition players like a protagonist in an action movie trying to avoid a flurry of bullets.

John McGinn was fun. Pure and simple. With or without the ball he was a bundle of energy, charging about looking to make his mark on the game. He possessed the attitude fans want to see from players, a desire to get on the ball and take responsibility. Out of possession he had engaged opponents. No matter how many times he would be kicked he would get up and give as good as he got. In his final season at Hibs no player was fouled more. Teams knew they had to stop McGinn or he would damage them.

Who can forget his three strikes in Glasgow against Celtic and Rangers in the 2017/2018 season. It was the one in the latter which showcased the best of John McGinn. Winning the ball in midfield, turning, driving forward then unleashing a shot into the bottom corner. There is a reason the club and fans still have an attachment with the player.

Pat Stanton

When you think of names synonymous with Hibernian Football Club Pat Stanton may well be the first. Not only did he play for the Easter Road side for 13 years but he is connected to the club from its very formation, his relative Michael Whelahan one of the founders and the first Hibs captain

Stanton too would become a notable captain at Hibs, lifting the 1972 League Cup trophy after putting in a starring role in the 2-1 win over Celtic. He opened the scoring that day at Hampden Park, latching onto a chipped free-kick then showing the composure and technique to avoid challenges in a tight area before slamming high into the net. The midfielder created the second with a great run and cross for Jimmy O'Rourke to head into the net

Stanton was a unit of a midfielder supplying Hibs with plenty of power, but more than that he was graceful in his movements and cultured with the ball. In the 1960s he went up against and bettered some of the best players in the world on the European stage. By 1970 he was SFWA Footballer of the Year. Three years later he was running rings around Hearts at Tynecastle in the 7-0 victory. And by 1976 he had moved to Celtic after nearly 700 games across 13 years at Easter Road. He is Mr Hibs.

The 5 best Hibs midfielders of the last 50 years