David Gray departed Hibernian after 12 years earlier this week, leaving the club to search for a new manager for the first time in just under 2-and-a-half-years. Many names will be thrown around whilst Hibs look for a replacement. They host Aberdeen on Saturday but a three-week international break awaits afterwards, where the Hibs higher-ups will look to get a new manager in. Here’s a list of potential replacements for David Gray:
Steve Clarke
The safe option. Clarke left his post at the Scotland National Team following this summer’s World Cup under similar terms to Gray, no one could deny he was a legend, but it was clear he’d taken the team as far as he could. Clarke led Kilmarnock to 3rd place during his last stint in club management seven years ago.
Darren McGregor
The sentimental option. Hibs fans might not want sentiment after Gray, but Darren McGregor’s hat will certainly be in the ring. McGregor joined Hibs 11 years ago as a player and has remained at the club post retirement, where he coaches the under-18s, whom he led to the league title in 2025.
Simo Valakari
Another option close to home. Valakari’s St. Johnstone defeated Hibs 2-1 earlier in the season. Valakari led St. Johnstone to the Championship title playing attractive, attacking football along the way. His side recorded the most points of any team in Scotland’s 2nd tier since the Rangers side of 2015/16. Prior to arriving in Perth, Valakari had won five trophies as a manager in his native Finland.
Jon Dahl Tomasson
Tomasson was previously linked to Hibs and was many fans’ first choice before Lee Johnson was appointed. The Dane led Malmö to consecutive Swedish league titles before joining Blackburn Rovers, where he narrowly missed out on play-off spots. Tomasson then became the Sweden boss, where dismissed in October of last year. Tomasson also has a Champions League medal as a player and this experience of winning at the highest level can only be a positive for Hibs.
Stephen Bradley
Another name Hibs fans won’t be strangers to. Bradley was linked to the post prior to Nick Montgomery’s appointment three years ago. Bradley has been Shamrock Rovers boss for 10 years, where he’s won five league titles and two Irish Cups, as well as three Conference League qualifications, even making the knockout stages in 2024/25. Bradley is also no stranger to a back three, which Hibs’ squad seems to be build around just now.
Damien Duff
Hibs could continue their strong Irish core with Duff as well. The former Premier League winger won the League of Ireland with Shelbourne two years ago. He took the role of Keith Andrews’ assistant at Brentford this season, but a return to being head coach could be available so soon with the vacancy in Leith.
Eder Sarabia
Sarabia has been out of work since leaving Elche in June, where the club retained their La Liga status after earning the club promotion a year prior. The Spainaird has worked for arguably the biggest club in the world when he was Quique Seteín’s assistant at FC Barcelona in 2020, whilst its rumoured there was a strenuous relationship between Sarabia and the Barcelona squad, Messi included, it certainly presents a left-field option for Hibs when they’re being called so heavily on to do so.
Adrian Siemieniec
The ambitious pick. Siemieniec was in charge of the Jagiellonia side that knocked Rangers out of the Europa League this season, as well as coaching them to both the Polish league and Super Cup. Early reports have indicated that Hibs won’t rule out paying a fee for an employed manager and Siemieniec would be a wise use of funds.
Neil Lennon
A fan favourite at Hibs. Lennon’s name appears every time there’s a vacancy at the club now. The Dunfermline manager lead Hibs back to the Premiership in 2017 before managing a 4th place finish with the likes of John McGinn and Scott Allan. Lennon left the club in 2018 before returning to Celtic to oversee two more trebles. Dunfermline went all the way to the Scottish Cup final taking down Hibs and Aberdeen on the way. Lennon’s side currently sit 5th in the second tier.
Emerse Faé
Reports in Scotland are now suggesting ex-Côte d’Ivoire manager Emerse Faé is interested in the Hibs job. He’s yet to step into club management, but led his nation to the African Cup of Nations title in 2024 despite only taking over as caretaker in the knockout stages. Faé then led his nation back to the World Cup after a 12-year drought. He left his post as Côte d’Ivoire manager after the World Cup, where he reached the round of 32 following the expiration of his contract. It would certainly be a risk to appoint a coach without club experience, but an AFCON title certainly supports the case for his risk.
Hibernian host Aberdeen tomorrow where John Potter will take charge. A long international break awaits where Hibs will want their new man in so he can meet his new squads and come to grips with the job. Early reports have touted Bristol Rovers head coach Steve Evans with the job, which has been met with large amounts of backlash from the Hibernian fans.