Paul Hanlon

Paul Hanlon

Hanlon representing Scotland U21
Personal information
Date of birth	(1990-01-20) 20 January 1990 (age 27)
Place of birth	Edinburgh, Scotland
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Centre back
Club information
Current team	Hibernian
Number	4
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2008–	Hibernian	244	(14)
2008–2009	→ St Johnstone (loan)	2	(0)
National team‡
2007–2009	Scotland U19	10	(0)
2009–2012	Scotland U21	23	(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19:08, 6 May 2017 (UTC). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 19:08, 6 May 2017 (UTC)

Paul Hanlon (born 20 January 1990) is a Scottish footballer who plays for Hibernian in the Scottish Championship as a defender. He began his senior career with Hibernian, making his debut in 2008, and has gone to make over 280 appearances for the club. He also briefly played for St Johnstone on loan during the 2008–09 season.

Hanlon has represented Scotland at under-19 and under-21 level.

Hanlon played for the well known Edinburgh youth football club Hutchison Vale, along with future Hibs teammate Danny Galbraith. Hanlon was an attacking midfielder who scored plenty of goals in youth football, but was converted to a defensive position after he signed for Hibs. He played his first senior game for Hibs on 12 January 2008, against Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup, due to injuries sustained by David Murphy and Lewis Stevenson. Hanlon played for Hibs on a regular basis over the next seven months, and he agreed a five-year contract with the club.

During the 2008–09 season, however, Hanlon was replaced by Ian Murray as Hibs' regular left back. Hanlon was loaned out to St Johnstone in December 2008, initially for one month. St Johnstone wanted to extend the loan arrangement, but Hibs refused to allow this. Hanlon went straight back into the Hibs team after returning from St Johnstone, but he was dropped soon afterwards by Mixu Paatelainen due to a defensive error he made in a match against Kilmarnock.