Hibs awards 2025/26: player of season, best signing, the flop and one to watch
We run the rule over Hibs’ season and nominate the prize guys
The 2025/26 season has come to an end and after finishing fifth in the Premiership, Hibs are assured of a place in the Conference League.
While the team were unable to hit the heights of last season, when they finished third, consecutive European campaigns for the first time in 50 years should not be sniffed at.
We dish out the Evening News’ Hibs awards for the past campaign:
Hibs player of the season
This is actually quite a tricky award to dish out because while there have been many strong campaigns from Hibs players, none of them have managed to maintain form levels for an entire campaign.
Josh Mulligan would have been very close to landing our player of the season had injury not wrecked his second half of the campaign. He was coming into his own as a central midfielder. Honourable mentions also go to centre-half Warren O’Hora and forward Martin Boyle.
However, we’re going to give this to attacking midfielder Jamie McGrath, who added a touch of class and quality to Hibs’ front line during the course of the season following his move on a free transfer from Aberdeen.
The 29-year-old made 41 appearances for Hibs across all competitions, scoring nine goals and providing four assists. One of those strikes was in an Edinburgh derby victory over Hearts and he also showed versatility by filling in at left wing-back.
Hibs tried to sign him multiple times in the past. McGrath showed that he was worth the wait this season.
Hibs signing of the season
Ooft, another tough one. McGrath is exempt, as he already has one gong in his pocket. So this is probably a toss-up between two players ...
Had he not been sent off against Hearts in the final derby of the season, then goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger would be well in the mix for this. The Austrian has been pretty solid and good with the ball at his feet since coming in from Hartberg. But that red card, for handling the ball outside his box, counts against him ...
Mulligan therefore lands the prize. Hibs had to pay a fee to Dundee for him after a tribunal, but the 23-year-old has been an excellent purchase. He quickly added energy and drive to the Hibs midfield and his injury against Dunfermline in January came at the worst possible time.
Hibs missed his presence and Mulligan’s Scotland World Cup chances fell by the wayside. Nevertheless, he was such a smart purchase and could make Hibs millions in the transfer market.
Goal of the season
Pah, this is easy. It might have some right at the start of the campaign, but anyone inside Easter Road on a warm summer’s evening will recall it fondly.
Kieron Bowie’s outrageous strike from nearly 40 yards against Partizan Belgrade in the Europa League was an astonishing goal and helped Hibs advance to the play-off round.
It also played a part in netting the club north of £6 million from Verona for the striker.
Young player of the season
It is easy to forget that Hibs’ energetic, rangy midfielder Miguel Chaiwa is still just 21-years-old.
The Zambian was bought from Youngs Boys in Switzerland last summer and put in a number of impressive performances. He is being monitored by Celtic, such are his excellent stats.
His trajectory is only going upwards and he is a fitting winner of this award.
Game of the season
Wins at Ibrox and Celtic Park should not be sniffed at. Hibs landed both in 2026 for the first time since the 1980s.
Some great European night were had as well.
However, derby wins are always special and beating Hearts 3-2 at Easter Road in the Christmas encounter sparked a rendition of Sunshine on Leith. That clinches it.
The ‘what if’ match
Hibs exited the Scottish Cup at the fourth-round stage to eventual runners-up Dunfermline Athletic. It derailed their season and denied them a good shout of going deep in the competition.
Losing to Rangers in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals was also sore given at the time, the Ibrox side were a mess.
However, conceding late in Poland to Legia Warsaw to deny Hibs a place in the Conference League was a killer. They were minutes away from a historic result.
What about the manager?
Head coach David Gray set the bar high with a third-placed finish last term and, let’s be honest, replicating that was always going to be very challenging.
Hearts’ title charge impacted perceptions of Gray’s work. Losing three of the four derbies will sting, as will cup performances. But Hibs finished fifth, landed Europe and won away at Ibrox and Celtic Park. This wasn’t a bad season at all.
Gray needs to kick on from here, and perhaps inject some fresh ideas into his 3-4-1-2 formation, but given many young managers suffer from second-season syndrome, this was a reasonable return from the dug-out.
Most improved player
Easy peasy. This goes to centre-half O’Hora, who has been a model pro this season.
He is a solid defender, uses the ball well and is a leader of men. Hang around long enough and the Irishman will become Hibs club captain one day.
Hibs’ defence has been reshuffled a fair amount this term, but O’Hora - in his second season at Easter Road - held firm throughout it. An important player for this club.
Biggest letdown
A reminder: Alasana Manneh is still at Hibernian Football Club.
The Gambian midfielder is 18 months into his time in Edinburgh but is unable to trouble the first team, making just five appearances this season.
Surely an exit would make sense this summer?
Poorest signing
No transfer is guaranteed to be a cast-iron success regardless of the money spent and in the case of Togolese striker Thibault Klidje, that is very much the case.
Hibs spent north of £1 million to Luzern for the forward last summer. By February he was on loan at Danish side Randers, unable to nail down a first-team place. We only saw brief flashes of his ability.
Klidje has a big summer on his hands as he tries to convince Gray and Co that he has a long-term future at Easter Road.
One to watch for next season
Step forward young Irish striker Owen Elding, who came in from Sligo Rovers in January and immediately didn’t look out of place in the Scottish leagues.
He has a burgeoning reputation and is likely to lead the line for Hibs and be their new No 9.