Hibs stars to gain 'significant' boost this weekend as summer signings set for Easter Road eye opener
Danish Superliga outfit return to the Scottish capital this weekend - 10 years on from previous European visit
A decade on from their previous meeting, Hibs welcome Brondby IF back to Leith this weekend for a pre-season friendly that will evoke memories of their Europa League tussle in 2016, with new signings getting a first taste of Easter Road.
The Danish Superliga outfit return to Easter Road as David Gray’s side apply the finishing touches to their preparations for the 2026/27 season, with the club beginning their Europa Conference League campaign five days later.
Ten years ago, Brondby beat a Hibs team that were fresh off winning the Scottish Cup and featured John McGinn and current boss Gray, on penalties following a 1-1 draw when the sides met in European qualifying.
And despite the outcome of the tie, one member of that close-knit Hibs squad who would go on to earn cult hero status among the fanbase recalls both games with fond memories.
“It was my first taste of Europe,” said former Hibs centre-back, Liam Fontaine in an interview with the Edinburgh Evening News. “Obviously, the standard of opposition was a lot higher because you're playing in Europe at the end of the day. I remember no one really gave us a chance going into the tie.
“We went behind after a minute in the first leg. Any other team could easily have folded and got battered, but we didn't. We were a team who didn't really get affected by anything negative. We just got on with it. I think we stood up well and gave a good account of ourselves over both games, to be honest.
“Obviously, to take them to penalties, I think it's a credit to how far we’d got to from where we were as a club a few years prior. The atmospheres were great and it was just a great time for the fans themselves to get back on that Europe train and enjoy themselves.”
Their European journey may have ended in heartache that season, but it was to prove the catalyst for what would be a title-winning campaign as Hibs sealed promotion back to the top-flight as champions.
Fontaine added: “When you get to the point where you leave any football club, you want to say that you contributed towards achieving something and put the club in a better place than when you first got there. That’s exactly what that group of players managed to do.
“Sometimes you have to pat yourself on the back that you were part of that, because you can never achieve anything without a squad or a team. When I say team, I mean everyone from the manager and the coaching staff that were behind us at that point like John Doolan, Andy Holden etc. They must all take credit to what we built there.
“Alan (Stubbs) had built a group that was hungry, wanted to play for each other and got on really well with each other. There was no splits in the dressing room, everyone just pulled in the same direction, and that's why we achieved what we did. At the time, we were always playing for something, whether it be the Championship, pushing to get promotion or competing in cup semi-finals or finals.
“You had a team who were performing to a high standard. You had John McGinn coming up and progressing his game... it was a great balanced squad. You had the age in there, the experience, the leaders. That team just led itself.”
Gray relishing Brondby test ahead of European adventure
Gray's revamped squad is beginning to take shape ahead of Hibs’ first European outing and the head coach reckons another testing run-out against Brondby in front of a home crowd will ensure his team are in fine fettle ahead of a trip to Albania or Kosovo next Thursday.
He commented: “They're always great games, aren't they? Especially for the new players as well, and it's an opportunity to go and play at Easter Road. It is always important that you get a home friendly in before the season starts so the players are familiar with what they're going into.
“It's good opposition again, one that will test the players. We'll be further forward in our preparations in terms of fitness, and we'll be ready to go. It's our last chance to get significant minutes into players before we go into the real stuff the following Thursday.
“It'll be a brilliant game. The players will be ready for that, and it'll be good to see the fans again, and I'm sure we'll all look forward to it.”