Grant Hanley on his battle to earn Hibs career revival as ‘grit and determination’ pays off
Easter Road ace a hero for club and country having worked through difficult moments in the summer
18:30, 10 Nov 2025
Grant Hanley(Image: SNS Group)
Grant Hanley reckons lonely summer slogs were worth it for Hibs highs and Scotland shows.
The defender is savouring life at Easter Road having pushed through more tough moments before getting to Leith.
Hanley heads into his country’s World Cup crunches against Greece and Denmark with excellent form and fitness having fully grasped the opportunity afforded by Hibs gaffer David Gray.
So far, it’s going just as he would have hoped as he refused to lose motivation and remained driven to earn and capitalise on such an impressive move.
Hanley battled back from serious Achilles’ tendon surgery two years ago to play at Norwich and Birmingham, but became a free agent after helping the Blues return to the Championship.
The 33-year-old admits the time of uncertainty was gruelling, but he stayed dedicated to his work and his graft ensured he was ready for the Hibs shot.
Coming through just heightens the good days as he said: “Of course. And there was a period of time this summer where I was out of contract and there were days where you’re going running yourself and things like that.
“I’m not saying it’s difficult to get yourself going, but it takes real grit and determination to take yourself through that and put yourself in a position where you’re fit enough to come into a team like this where the competition’s so high in every position. That’s the reason you work so hard.”
Proving critics wrong doesn’t matter as he continued: “That’s never really been my motivation, never really the angle that I would look at.
“The reality is there’s only a few people whose opinions really matter and I’m one of them. And as long as I’m happy with everything I’ve done and how I’ve performed, then I can sleep at night.”
Grant Hanley
National coach Steve Clarke has never lost sleep over the ability of his centre-back at any stage of his reign and he gets his stalwart back for the matches against Greece and Denmark in peak form.
Hanley stays grounded as ever, but said: “As a professional, you make sure you’re prepared as best you can be.
“I wouldn’t say I was going into it feeling any different than I have previously because I always did as much as I could to get myself right.
“It’s probably the longest since I ruptured my achilles two and a half years ago. It’s definitely the longest run of games, which is clearly a positive.
“After an injury like that, at the age I was, it’s difficult to get yourself going. There’s been some difficult moments, moments that have been really difficult to push through.
“But here and now I’m so glad I did. I’m really enjoying my football and I’m playing regularly for a couple of massive teams.
“It means a lot to come up and play in a country that I’ve been called up for. The plan was to come and play for a massive club, which I’m doing, and also keep my international career going.
“I’m more than aware of what football’s like. I’ve had enough tough moments and periods where it’s been difficult.
“I know it’s important to keep yourself level. I don’t think too far ahead of myself. It’s about the fine details that go into it every day that are so important.
“I’ll meet up with Scotland and I’m looking forward to it. It’s always in your mind, always something you’re looking forward to, especially this period when you’ve got so many international windows coming so quickly. “It feels like the next one rolls around pretty quickly. Massive for Scotland. We’re going to Turkey first for a camp to prepare.
“Whatever we do with Scotland, it’s always an honour to go away and I’m really looking forward to it.
Grant Hanley celebrates with Hibs pal Rocky Bushiri
“It was obviously a big part of coming to a club like this. But the reality is you’ve got to get yourself on the pitch, you’ve got to get minutes and you’ve got to play well. Otherwise, the national team wouldn’t be a thing. “There’s too many good players trying to get your place. But it’s going to plan so far. It’s up to me to keep performances up and stay fit and, hopefully, that can last as long as possible.”
Hibs’ weekend win in Paisley kept them third in the table and Hanley said: “In football there are times when you feel like you don’t get what you deserve at times. It’s up to us on the pitch to go and take that.
“There’s definitely been room for us to improve this season so far. There’s a long way to go, but we’ll take this one as a positive and keep the build.
“Those results are satisfying because there have been times where we feel we’ve conceded goals at poor times or maybe even soft goals. So you prize the clean sheet.”
