Editing Hibernian F.C. (section)

===2000s: "Golden generation"===
Hibs enjoyed a good season in 2000–01 as they finished third in the league and reached the [[2001 Scottish Cup final]], which was lost 3–0 to [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]].<ref name ="2001 Cup Final">{{Cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scottish_cup/1343842.stm |title=Celtic lift cup to complete Treble |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 May 2001 |access-date=22 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060207220617/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scottish_cup/1343842.stm |archive-date=7 February 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> Manager [[Alex McLeish]] departed for Rangers in December 2001;<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/1701609.stm |title=Rangers unveil McLeish |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 December 2001 |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090627163412/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/r/rangers/1701609.stm |archive-date=27 June 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> team [[captain (association football)|captain]] [[Franck Sauzée]] was appointed as the new manager, despite the fact that he had no previous coaching experience.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/1711001.stm |title=Hibs choose Sauzee |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 December 2001 |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811225550/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/1711001.stm |archive-date=11 August 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref> A terrible run of form followed and Sauzée was fired after being in charge for 69 days.<ref name = "joy of six">{{Cite news |last=Murray |first=Scott |url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/11/06/the_joy_of_six_terrible_manage.html |title=The Joy of Six: terrible managerial stints |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=6 November 2007 |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080210141119/http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/sport/2007/11/06/the_joy_of_six_terrible_manage.html |archive-date=10 February 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name = "Hibs sack Sauzee">{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/1833764.stm |title=Hibs sack Sauzee |publisher=BBC Sport |date=21 February 2002 |access-date=23 February 2010}}</ref>

[[Kilmarnock F.C.|Kilmarnock]] manager [[Bobby Williamson]] was then hired, but he proved to be unpopular with Hibs supporters.<ref name = "few hibees will mourn">{{Cite web |last=Moffat |first=Colin |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/3644519.stm |title=Few Hibees will mourn Williamson |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 April 2004 |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040423012240/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/3644519.stm |archive-date=23 April 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, a "[[golden generation]]" of exciting young players emerged, including [[Garry O'Connor]], [[Derek Riordan]], [[Kevin Thomson]] and [[Scott Brown (footballer, born June 1985)|Scott Brown]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.msn.com/en-gb/sport/football/lee-johnson-has-the-new-hibs-golden-generation-next-season-to-kickstart-easter-road-revival-tam-mcmanus |title=Lee Johnson has the new Hibs golden generation next season to kickstart Easter Road revival - Tam McManus |website=msn.com |date=8 June 2022 |accessdate=8 July 2022}}</ref> These players featured heavily as Hibs eliminated both halves of the [[Old Firm]]<ref name=hibsgers>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36243609|title=Hibernian & Rangers: Memorable cup ties|publisher=BBC Sport|date=20 May 2016|access-date=10 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181112195540/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36243609|archive-date=12 November 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> to reach the [[2004 Scottish League Cup final]], only to lose 2–0 to [[Livingston F.C.|Livingston]].<ref name = "few hibees will mourn"/> Williamson departed near the end of that season to manage [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]] and was replaced by [[Tony Mowbray]].<ref name = "few hibees will mourn"/><ref name = "Mowbray is new Hibs boss">{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/3741809.stm |title=Mowbray is new Hibs boss |publisher=BBC Sport |date=24 May 2004 |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040723133741/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/3741809.stm |archive-date=23 July 2004 |url-status=live }}</ref> Hibs finished third in his first season as manager, while Mowbray won the [[SFWA Manager of the Year]] award.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/4505709.stm |title=Hartson wins writers' top prize |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2 May 2005 |access-date=23 February 2010}}</ref>

[[File:HibsCupwinnersEasterRoad2007.jpg|thumb|right|The [[Scottish League Cup]] is paraded in March 2007.]]
Mowbray left Hibs in October 2006 to manage [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]],<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/6043410.stm |title=Mowbray leaves Hibs for West Brom |publisher=BBC Sport |date=13 October 2006 |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080215112119/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/w/west_bromwich_albion/6043410.stm |archive-date=15 February 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> and was replaced by former player [[John Collins (footballer, born 1968)|John Collins]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/6097278.stm |title=John Collins confirmed as Hibs manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=31 October 2006 |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061109040557/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/6097278.stm |archive-date=9 November 2006 |url-status=live }}</ref> The team won the [[2007 Scottish League Cup final]] under his management,<ref name="2007 League Cup">{{Cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/6456647.stm|title=Kilmarnock 1–5 Hibernian|last=Lindsay|first=Clive|date=18 March 2007|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=22 February 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070325160048/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/6456647.stm|archive-date=25 March 2007|url-status=live}}</ref> but the club sold [[Kevin Thomson]], [[Scott Brown (footballer, born June 1985)|Scott Brown]] and [[Steven Whittaker]] for fees totalling more than [[Pound sterling|£]]8&nbsp;million.<ref name ="Collins resigns"/> Collins resigned later that year, frustrated by the lack of funds provided to sign new players.<ref name ="Collins resigns">{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/7153893.stm |title=Collins resigns as Hibs manager |publisher=BBC Sport |date=20 December 2007 |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080317134344/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/7153893.stm |archive-date=17 March 2008 |url-status=live }}</ref> Former Hibs player [[Mixu Paatelainen]] was hired to replace Collins, but he left after the end of his first full season.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/scottishpremier/hibernian/5408828/Mixu-Paatelainen-resigns-as-Hibs-manager.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120526230302/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/scottishpremier/hibernian/5408828/Mixu-Paatelainen-resigns-as-Hibs-manager.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=26 May 2012 |title=Mixu Paatelainen resigns as Hibs manager |work=[[Daily Telegraph]] |last=Lomax |first=Andrew |date=29 May 2009 |access-date=3 October 2011|publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited}}</ref>

Another former Hibernian player, [[John Hughes (footballer, born 1964)|John Hughes]], was soon appointed in place of Paatelainen.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/8089954.stm |title=Hughes appointed Hibernian boss |publisher=BBC Sport |date=8 June 2009 |access-date=23 February 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612081224/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/h/hibernian/8089954.stm |archive-date=12 June 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> Hughes, who made high-profile signings such as [[Anthony Stokes]]<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/aug/28/hibernian-john-hughes-anthony-stokes |title=John Hughes' resurgent Hibernian face early test from Celtic |work=[[The Guardian]] Sport Blog |date=28 August 2009 |access-date=23 February 2010 |last=Murray |first=Ewan |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131002145756/http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/aug/28/hibernian-john-hughes-anthony-stokes |archive-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> and [[Liam Miller]],<ref name = "world's a stage">{{Cite news |url=http://sport.scotsman.com/football/The-world39s-a-stage-for.5805159.jp |title=The world's a stage for Miller |work=[[Scotland on Sunday]] |publisher=Johnston Press |date=8 November 2009 |access-date=23 February 2010 |last=Hannan |first=Martin |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091109090910/http://sport.scotsman.com/football/The-world39s-a-stage-for.5805159.jp |archive-date=9 November 2009 |url-status=live }}</ref> led Hibs to a good start to the 2009–10 season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/131719-hibs-must-seize-the-initiative-against-weak-old-firm/ |title=Hibs must seize the initiative against weak Old Firm |publisher=STV Sport |date=21 October 2009 |access-date=23 February 2010 |last=Drysdale |first=Neil |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091029062047/http://sport.stv.tv/football/131719-hibs-must-seize-the-initiative-against-weak-old-firm/ |archive-date=29 October 2009 |url-status=dead }}</ref>