Following David Gray’s departure from Hibs yesterday, it feels like Hibs have lost a massive part of themselves. Gray was Alan Stubbs’ first signing following Hibs’ relegation to the Championship and his 12-year stint at the club from player, to captain, to coach, to manager came to an end following a 1-0 defeat at home to Kilmarnock on Tuesday. Here are his six most influential moments at Hibs, from the pitch to pitch side.

1. Rangers 2-3 Hibernian (21st May 2016)

The obvious one. Not only the most defining moment in David Gray’s time at Hibs, but the most influential moment in Hibernian’s history. The club hadn’t won the Scottish Cup in 114 years before Gray. Not only did he captain them to their cup win, he scored the winning goal in the 92nd minute to give Hibs fans a moment they’ll never forget.

2. Hibernian 3-3 Aberdeen (26th November 2024)

At the beginning of Gray’s managerial stint, Hibs were languishing bottom with one win in fourteen games. It’s widely acknowledged that this could have been Gray’s last match in charge. Aberdeen were high flying at the time, but this was the first time Gray opted to play a back three, names like Jack Iredale, Jordan Smith and Nicky Cadden came into the side to breath new life into it. Cadden would score what everyone thought was a stoppage time equaliser with a fantastic free-kick, but it seemed like Ester Sokler put the last nail in Gray’s coffin with a 95th minute overhead-kick. Rocky Bushiri would score his first Hibs goal a minute later to save Gray’s job. At the time of Sokler’s goal, Aberdeen were 26 points clear of Hibs. David Gray would lead his side to a 17-match unbeaten run after this, coupled with an Aberdeen capitulation, Hibs would seal 3rd in Gray’s first season in charge, finishing above Aberdeen.

3. Hibernian 3-0 Queen of the South (15th April 2017)

If it weren’t for Gray’s Scottish Cup final goal, Hibs might have languished in the Championship for a lot longer than they did. Winning the Scottish Cup brought many fans back to Easter Road. Gray scored the 3rd goal in the match that returned hits back to where they belong.

4. Hibernian 1-2 Celtic (19th December 2021)

During his first of four interim spells in charge of Hibs, Gray was thrown in the deep end of a League Cup final against Ange Postecoglu’s Celtic. Paul McGinn cites Gray’s pre-match team talk as the best he’s ever seen as the Hibernian legend told his players everything the Scottish Cup winning goal done for him, as he encouraged his players to be legends themselves. The match may not have went Hibs’ way that day, but it was clear to all involved at the club that Gray would take charge in his own right one day.

5. Hibernian 2-1 Heart of Midlothian (2nd March 2025)

In the middle of Hibs’ 17-match unbeaten run there came a week where they faced Celtic, Dundee United and Hearts. Hibs dispatched of Celtic before two stoppage time goals against Dundee United returned the favour for the trip to Tannadice earlier that season. A derby win against Hearts where Jack Iredale scored the goal-of-the-season made it clear Hibs were destined for 3rd.

6. Hibernian 2-3 KAA Gent (27th August 2026)

This signalled the beginning of the end for many. For the second year running, Hibs had crashed out of Europe in the last minute of the play-off round. Poor in-game management made it obvious Gray couldn’t take Hibs further than he already had.