Hibernian 1967

The story of Hibernian in the 1960s is not one of silverware, but of survival, revival, and some of the most unforgettable European nights ever witnessed at Easter Road.

The decade began in difficult circumstances. In the turbulent early 1960s, the club slipped into serious decline, culminating in the 1963–64 season when relegation was only avoided on the final day at Easter Road. It was a stark moment that underlined how far Hibs had fallen from their post-war prominence.

Change came swiftly. In March 1964, Jock Stein was appointed manager of a side sitting 12th in the league. Although Hibernian retained a sizeable support and proud tradition, they were underachieving and lacked direction. Stein’s impact was immediate. Players noted the difference from the outset — he took an active role in training, demanded higher standards, and quickly imposed structure on a struggling team.

He rebuilt from the back, constructing his defence around John McNamee and the emerging Pat Stanton, while in midfield he revitalised talented but inconsistent figures such as Pat Quinn and Willie Hamilton. Under Stein’s guidance, Hamilton in particular produced some of the finest football of his career. Up front, Neil Martin thrived, scoring regularly and earning Scotland recognition.

The transformation was rapid. Stein led Hibernian to victory in the Summer Cup — their first trophy in a decade — and instilled belief in a side that had been fighting for survival only months earlier. The 1964–65 season began unevenly with a derby defeat to Hearts, but Hibs quickly recovered, and confidence surged following a remarkable 2–0 victory over Real Madrid in a friendly at Easter Road, played before a crowd of 32,000.

By early 1965, Hibernian were challenging near the top of the league and had reached the semi-finals of the Scottish Cup, having defeated Rangers in the quarter-final — Stein’s final match in charge. Yet behind the scenes, events were unfolding that would shape Scottish football history. Long coveted by Celtic, Stein left Hibernian in March 1965 after helping arrange for Bob Shankly to succeed him. His departure came at a crucial moment, and although Hibs ultimately failed to secure silverware that season, Stein later admitted that leaving when he did remained one of his greatest regrets. His record, however, was extraordinary — a win rate of 62%, the best in the club’s history.

Even beyond Stein’s departure, the mid-1960s Hibernian side retained significant quality, at one stage boasting an all-Scottish international forward line. Yet in a domestic landscape increasingly dominated by Rangers and Stein’s own Celtic side, consistent league success proved difficult to sustain.

Instead, Hibernian forged their reputation on European nights. Easter Road became a stage for some of the continent’s finest clubs, with Barcelona, Roma, Porto, Napoli, Leeds United and Liverpool all visiting Leith during the decade.

It was in these encounters that Hibs produced performances that have passed into legend. The tie with Barcelona remains one of the most celebrated — a thrilling 4–4 draw at the Camp Nou followed by a famous 3–2 victory in Edinburgh. Yet even that was eclipsed by what stands as one of the greatest reversals in European football history. Having been beaten 4–1 in Naples, Hibs returned to Easter Road facing a daunting task. What followed was extraordinary. Napoli — then leaders of the Italian league and featuring the world’s finest goalkeeper, Dino Zoff — were overwhelmed 5–0 in a display of relentless attacking football.

Key figures throughout the decade included Bob Shankly, elder brother of Liverpool legend Bill, who guided the club through part of this transitional period. On the pitch, players such as Peter Cormack and Peter Marinello emerged as outstanding talents, while Pat Stanton grew into a commanding and influential presence at the heart of the side.

By the end of the 1960s, Hibernian had not added major domestic honours, but they had preserved something just as important — a distinct footballing identity built on attacking intent and a capacity to rise to the grandest occasions.

That identity would soon be rewarded. The return of Eddie Turnbull — a member of the Famous Five — as manager in July 1971 marked the beginning of the club’s next great era. From the foundations laid during the 1960s emerged what many regard as Hibernian’s finest side — the exhilarating “Turnbull’s Tornadoes,” featuring Jimmy O’Rourke, Alex Cropley, Alan Gordon, Alex Edwards, Eric Schaedler, Arthur Duncan, and John Blackley and John Brownlie.