{{short description|Scottish footballer}} {{Use British English|date=April 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2022}} {{infobox football biography | name = Paul Hanlon | image = Paul Hanlon - Schottland U-21 (1).jpg | caption = Hanlon in 2009 | fullname = Paul Thomas Hanlon<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=31182 |title=National football team player Paul Hanlon |website=EU-Football.info |access-date=26 February 2021}}</ref> | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|1|20|df=y}} | birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland | height = {{convert|1.80|m|order=flip}}<ref>[https://uk.soccerway.com/players/paul-hanlon/22356/ P. Hanlon], Soccerway</ref> | position = Centre-back | currentclub = Raith Rovers | clubnumber = 4 | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Hutchison Vale | youthyears2 = 2007–2008 | youthclubs2 = Hibernian | years1 = 2008–2024 | caps1 = 451 | goals1 = 22 | clubs1 = Hibernian | years2 = 2008–2009 | caps2 = 2 | goals2 = 0 | clubs2 = → St Johnstone (loan) | years3 = 2024– | caps3 = 33 | goals3 = 2 | clubs3 = Raith Rovers | club-update = 11 June 2025 | nationalyears1 = 2007–2009 | nationalteam1 = Scotland U19<ref name = "sfa">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_player_profile.cfm?page=106&playerID=42301&squadID=9 |title=Paul Hanlon – U19 Squad |publisher=Scottish Football Association |access-date=7 September 2010}}</ref> | nationalcaps1 = 10 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2009–2012 | nationalteam2 = Scotland U21<ref name = "sfa 21">{{cite web |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/football_player_profile.cfm?page=106&playerID=42301&squadID=5 |title=Paul Hanlon – U21 Squad |publisher=Scottish Football Association |access-date=7 September 2010}}</ref> | nationalcaps2 = 23 | nationalgoals2 = 2 | nationalyears3 = 2020 | nationalteam3 = Scotland | nationalcaps3 = 1 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | nationalteam-update = 06:29, 26 November 2023 (UTC) | manageryears1 = 2025 | managerclubs1 = Raith Rovers (interim) }} '''Paul Thomas Hanlon''' (born 20 January 1990) is a Scottish professional footballer who plays as a defender for {{Scottish football updater|RaithRov}} club Raith Rovers. He began his senior career with Hibernian, making his debut in 2008, and went on to make over 500 appearances for the club. He also briefly played for St Johnstone on loan during the 2008–09 season.
Hanlon represented Scotland at the under-19 and under-21 levels, and made one full international appearance in October 2020.
==Club career== ===Hibernian=== Hanlon played for the well known Edinburgh youth football club Hutchison Vale, along with future Hibs teammate Danny Galbraith.<ref name = "striker move">{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hibernian/2009/11/15/paul-hanlon-moving-from-a-striker-to-defence-has-been-a-learning-curve-but-i-ve-survived-86908-21823574/ |title=Paul Hanlon: Moving from a striker to defence has been a learning curve but I've survived |newspaper=Sunday Mail|location=Scotland |date=15 November 2009}}</ref> Hanlon was an attacking midfielder who scored plenty of goals in youth football, but was converted to a defensive position after he signed for boyhood club Hibs.<ref name = "striker move"/> 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.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_cups/7181084.stm |title=Hibernian 3–0 Inverness CT |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 January 2008}}</ref> Hanlon played for Hibs on a regular basis over the next seven months, and he agreed a five-year contract with the club.<ref name = "St Johnstone take Hanlon on loan">{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/s/st_johnstone/7800095.stm |title=St Johnstone take Hanlon on loan |publisher=BBC Sport |date=26 December 2008}}</ref>
During the 2008–09 season, however, Hanlon was replaced by Ian Murray as Hibs' regular left back.<ref name = "St Johnstone take Hanlon on loan"/> Hanlon was loaned out to St Johnstone in December 2008, initially for one month.<ref name = "St Johnstone take Hanlon on loan"/> St Johnstone wanted to extend the loan arrangement, but Hibs refused to allow this.<ref>{{cite news |publisher=DC Thomson |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/01/21/sportstory12528060t0.asp |title=Hanlon recall sees Saints suffer |newspaper=The Courier |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605020347/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/output/2009/01/21/sportstory12528060t0.asp |archive-date=5 June 2011 }}</ref> 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.
Hanlon played infrequently during the 2009–10 season, only featuring when one of the regular defenders was unavailable. One such period was when Sol Bamba was with the Ivory Coast national team at the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations;<ref>{{cite news |url=http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/football/Hibs-boss-reckons-Hanlon-can.6013128.jp |title=Hibs boss reckons Hanlon can handle Hoops |first=David |last=Hardie |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |date=26 January 2010 |access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref> manager John Hughes said it was a tough decision to reinstate Bamba to the team at Hanlon's expense.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/2010/01/31/hibs-2-st-mirren-1-86908-22008271/ |title=Hibs 2 St Mirren 1 |newspaper=Sunday Mail|location=Scotland |first=Rob |last=Fairburn |date=31 January 2010 |access-date=31 January 2010}}</ref> At the end of the season, Hughes commented that Hanlon was a "great" footballer, but needed to become tougher and show more desire.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/John-Hughes-urges-Paul-Hanlon.6301310.jp |title=John Hughes urges Paul Hanlon to get tough with Hibs strikers |first=David |last=Hardie |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |date=18 May 2010 |access-date=18 May 2010}}</ref>
Hughes again praised Hanlon before the start of the 2010–11 season, saying that he had a "real future" in the game and had the potential to play in the Premier League.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/football/spl/hibernian/2010/08/15/paul-hanlon-could-win-move-to-english-premier-league-like-danny-wilson-if-he-keeps-learning-says-hibs-boss-john-hughes-86908-22489179/ |title=Paul Hanlon could win move to English Premier League like Danny Wilson if he keeps learning, says Hibs boss John Hughes |last=Haggerty |first=Anthony |newspaper=Sunday Mail|location=Scotland |date=15 August 2010 |access-date=15 August 2010}}</ref> Following the departure of Chris Hogg, Hanlon captained the team at times.<ref name = "captain"/> Hanlon agreed a new contract with the club in May 2011.<ref name = "captain">{{cite web |url=http://www.skysports.com/story/0,19528,12875_6916212,00.html|title=Hanlon secures Hibs extension |publisher=Sky Sports |date=6 May 2011|access-date=6 May 2011}}</ref>
Hibs struggled in the 2011–12 season, only securing a place in the SPL with a 4–0 win against Dunfermline in early May.<ref name = "ghost"/> Hanlon scored the fourth goal, which was awarded despite the fact the ball had not crossed the goal-line.<ref name = "ghost">{{cite web |url=http://sport.stv.tv/football/clubs/hibernian/99064-paul-hanlon-i-was-shocked-when-officials-awarded-my-ghost-goal/ |title=Paul Hanlon: 'I was shocked when officials awarded my ghost goal' |publisher=STV |website=STV Sport |date=10 May 2012 |access-date=8 February 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=August 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> He played in Scottish Cup final defeats in 2012 and 2013.<ref name = "2016 contract"/>
He won the club's player of the year award for the 2013–14 season, awarded in March 2014.<ref name = "poty">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26791402 |title=Hibernian defender Paul Hanlon to miss rest of season |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 March 2014 |access-date=8 February 2016}}</ref> At the same time, Hanlon was ruled out of action for the rest of the season due to a knee injury.<ref name = "poty"/> Hibs were seven points ahead of the relegation play-off position at that point,<ref name = "poty"/> but a continued bad run of results led to their eventual relegation to the Scottish Championship.
In the 2015–16 season, Hanlon scored the winning goal in a match against Rangers<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/34630330|title=Hibernian 2-1 Rangers|work=BBC Sport |date=31 October 2015 }}</ref> and scored an injury-time equaliser away to Hearts in the 2015–16 Scottish Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35453156|title=Heart of Midlothian 2-2 Hibernian|work=BBC Sport |date=5 February 2016 }}</ref> Hibs won the replay against Hearts at Easter Road<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35535920|title=Hibernian 1-0 Heart of Midlothian|work=BBC Sport |date=15 February 2016 }}</ref> and went on to win the competition, defeating Rangers 3–2 in the final.<ref name = "cup win">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36292302|title=Scottish Cup final: Rangers 2-3 Hibernian |date=21 May 2016|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=21 May 2016}}</ref>
Hanlon signed a three-year contract with Hibs in June 2016.<ref name = "2016 contract">{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36532255 |title=Paul Hanlon: Hibernian defender signs new three-year contract |publisher=BBC Sport|date=14 June 2016 |access-date=14 June 2016}}</ref> He missed much of the second half of the 2016–17 season due to a pelvic injury,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/paul-hanlon-s-hibs-season-isn-t-over-insists-neil-lennon-1-4417415 |title=Paul Hanlon's Hibs season isn't over, insists Neil Lennon |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |first=David |last=Hardie |access-date=22 April 2017}}</ref> but the team earned promotion to the Premiership.<ref name="BBC39536738"/> He was awarded a testimonial by Hibs in March 2018,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/hibs-central-defender-paul-hanlon-awarded-testimonial-1-4702631 |title=Hibs central defender Paul Hanlon awarded testimonial |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |date=8 March 2018 |access-date=8 March 2018 |first=David |last=Hardie}}</ref> and soon afterwards agreed a new contract with the club.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43681649 |title=Paul Hanlon: Hibernian defender signs new contract to 2022 |publisher=BBC Sport|date=7 April 2018 |access-date=7 April 2018}}</ref>
Hanlon made his 400th competitive appearance for Hibs on 23 November 2019, in a 3–1 win against Motherwell.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50443020 |title=Hibernian 3–1 Motherwell |publisher=BBC Sport |first=Jordan |last=Elgott |date=23 November 2019 |access-date=23 November 2019}}</ref>
Following the retirement of David Gray, Hanlon was appointed club captain in July 2021.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/paul-hanlon-named-new-hibs-skipper-as-club-makes-call-on-vice-captain-3315348 |title=Paul Hanlon named new Hibs skipper as club makes call on vice-captain |first=Patrick |last=McPartlin |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |date=20 July 2021 |access-date=20 July 2021}}</ref> On 16 November 2021, Hanlon signed a new long-term contract with Hibernian, keeping him at the club until 2024.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/article/paul-hanlon-remains-a-hibee|title=Paul Hanlon Remains A Hibee|website=Hibernian|date=16 November 2021|accessdate=16 November 2021}}</ref> Hanlon made his 500th appearance for the club on 7 May 2022, in a 1–1 draw against Aberdeen.<ref>{{cite tweet |user=HibernianFC |number=1522984101845905410 |title=Ron Gordon presented Paul Hanlon with a special shirt to commemorate his 500th Hibs appearance today after the game |date=7 May 2022 |accessdate=8 May 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/sport/football/hibs/hibs-david-gray-hails-paul-hanlon-for-playing-through-pain-barrier-to-reach-milestone-3685015 |title=Hibs: David Gray hails Paul Hanlon for playing through pain barrier to reach milestone |newspaper=Edinburgh Evening News |first=Patrick |last=McPartlin |date=8 May 2022 |accessdate=8 May 2022}}</ref>
Hibs announced in May 2024 that Hanlon and long-serving teammate Lewis Stevenson would be leaving the club at the end of the 2023–24 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/c3ge2rn63m4o |title=Stalwarts Hanlon & Stevenson's Hibs exits 'uncomfortable' but mutual |website=BBC Sport |date=9 May 2024 |accessdate=16 May 2024}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/articles/clkk3dxxw27o |title=Hibernian announce retained list |website=BBC Sport |date=10 June 2024 |accessdate=10 June 2024}}</ref>
===Raith Rovers=== Hanlon signed a three-year deal with Raith Rovers on 20 June 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Club |first1=Raith Rovers Football |last2=Fowlie |first2=Grace |date=2024-06-20 |title=WELCOME, PAUL HANLON! |url=https://www.raithrovers.net/welcome-paul-hanlon/ |access-date=2024-07-18 |website=Raith Rovers Football Club |language=en-GB}}</ref>
Following the departure of manager Barry Robson in November 2025, Hanlon was made interim player/manager until Dougie Imrie took charge later that month.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn8vk03jzvro |title=Raith Rovers sack manager Robson after poor run |website=BBC Sport |date=11 November 2025 |accessdate=11 November 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cy8j7p9n9xxo |title=Dougie Imrie: Raith Rovers appoint Greenock Morton manager as new boss |website=BBC Sport |date=25 November 2025 |accessdate=25 November 2025}}</ref>
==International career== [[File:Paul Hanlon - Schottland U-21 (2).jpg|thumb|upright|Hanlon with Scotland U21 in 2009]]
Hanlon captained Scotland under-19,<ref name = "sfa"/><ref name = "St Johnstone take Hanlon on loan"/> and made his debut for Scotland under-21 in a 1–0 win against Albania in March 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/7946314.stm |title=Albania U21 0–1 Scotland U21 |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 March 2009}}</ref> Hanlon was a regular in central defence during the 2011 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification campaign,<ref name = "sfa 21"/> which ended in a play-off defeat by Iceland.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/scotland/9080443.stm |title=Scotland U21 1–2 Iceland U21 (2–4 on agg) |publisher=BBC Sport |date=11 October 2010 |access-date=11 October 2010 |last=Murray |first=Keir}}</ref> Hanlon then captained an inexperienced side in November 2010 as head coach Billy Stark made initial preparations for the 2013 UEFA European Under-21 Championship qualification campaign.<ref name = "u21 captain"/> He scored the second goal in a 3–1 win for Scotland in a friendly match against Northern Ireland.<ref name = "u21 captain">{{cite news |url=http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_fa_news.cfm?page=1884&newsCategoryID=6&newsID=6832 |title=Under-21s defeat Northern Ireland |date=17 November 2010 |access-date=18 November 2010 |publisher=Scottish Football Association |last=Irving |first=Chris}}</ref>
Hanlon received his first call-up to the senior Scotland squad in November 2017, for a friendly match with the Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/41796933 |title=Scotland: Interim manager Malky Mackay calls up three new faces for friendly |publisher=BBC Sport|date=30 October 2017 |access-date=31 October 2017}}</ref> He was recalled to the squad in October 2020,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54516492 |title=Scotland v Czech Republic: Hibs captain Paul Hanlon called up |publisher=BBC Sport |date=12 October 2020 |access-date=12 October 2020}}</ref> and made his full international debut in a 1–0 win against the Czech Republic.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54424702 |title=Scotland 1–0 Czech Republic |publisher=BBC Sport |date=14 October 2020 |access-date=14 October 2020}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played on 15 May 2024}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.fitbastats.com/hibs/player.php?playerid=1065|title=Hibernian Player Paul Hanlon Details}}</ref><ref>{{soccerbase|id=48455|name=Paul Hanlon}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division !App !Goals !App !Goals !App !Goals !App !Goals !App !Goals |- |rowspan="18"|Hibernian |2007–08<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2007}}</ref> |rowspan="6"|Scottish Premier League |7||0||2|||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||9||0 |- |2008–09<ref name = "soccerbase 2008">{{Soccerbase season|48455|2008}}</ref> |7||1||0||0||0||0||2||0||9||1 |- |2009–10<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2009}}</ref><ref group = "note">Soccerbase did not record an appearance made and goal scored by Hanlon against Brechin City on [https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/8220471.stm 26 August 2009].</ref> |18||0||3|||1||2||1||colspan="2"|—||23||2 |- |2010–11<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2010}}</ref> |33||2||2|||0||1||0||1||0||37||2 |- |2011–12<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2011}}</ref> |35||2||5|||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||43||2 |- |2012–13<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2012}}</ref> |34||1||4|||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||39||1 |- |2013–14<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2013}}</ref> |Scottish Premiership |28||1||2||0||2||0||2||0||34||1 |- |2014–15<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2014}}</ref> |rowspan="3"|Scottish Championship |31||4||4||0||2||0||3||0||40||4 |- |2015–16<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2015}}</ref> |29||1||5||1||5||0||5||0||44||2 |- |2016–17<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2016}}</ref><ref group = "note">Soccerbase did not record two appearances made by Hanlon against Brondby IF on [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36786276 14 July] and [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36821068 21 July 2016].</ref> |22||2||0||0||1||1||4||0||27||3 |- |2017–18<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2017}}</ref> |rowspan=7|Scottish Premiership |36||2||1||0||3||0||colspan="2"|—||40||2 |- |2018–19<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2018}}</ref><ref group = "note">Soccerbase did not record appearances made by Hanlon against Asteras Tripolis on [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/44941506 26 July] and [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45005863 2 August], and Molde on [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45087958 9 August] and [https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/45175150 16 August 2018].</ref> |26||1||3||0||2||0||5||0||36||1 |- |2019–20<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2019}}</ref><ref group = "note" name = "2020SC">One appearance in the 2019–20 Scottish Cup was in a match delayed until October 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.</ref> |30||2||5||0||6||0||colspan="2"|—||41||2 |- |2020–21<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2020}}</ref><ref group = "note" name = "2020SC"/> |37||1||5||0||4||1||colspan="2"|—||46||2 |- |2021–22<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2021}}</ref> |24||0||2||0||3||1||3||0||32||1 |- |2022–23<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2022}}</ref> |34||1||1||0||0||0||colspan="2"|—||35||1 |- |2023–24<ref>{{Soccerbase season|48455|2023}}</ref> |20||1||1||0||2||0||6||0||29||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !451!!22!!45!!2!!37!!4!!31!!0!!564!!28 |- |St Johnstone (loan) |2008–09<ref name = "soccerbase 2008"/> |Scottish First Division |2||0||1|||0||0||0||0||0||3||0 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !453!!22!!46!!2!!37!!4!!31!!0!!567!!28 |}
==Honours== '''Hibernian''' *Scottish Cup: 2015–16<ref name = "cup win"/> *Scottish Championship: 2016–17<ref name="BBC39536738">{{cite web | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39536738 | title=Hibernian 3–0 Queen of the South |publisher=BBC Sport | date=15 April 2017 | access-date=16 April 2017}}</ref>
'''Raith Rovers''' *Scottish Challenge Cup: 2025–26<ref>{{cite web|date=5 April 2026|title=Raith Rovers win KDM Evolution Trophy|url=https://spfl.co.uk/news/raith-rovers-win-kdm-evolution-trophy}}</ref>
'''Individual''' *Hibernian F.C. Hall of Fame inductee: 2024<ref name="HibsHOF">[https://www.hibernianfc.co.uk/news/2024/october/17/six-hibs-legends-inducted-into-hall-of-fame/ Six Hibs legends inducted into Hall of Fame], Hibernian FC, 17 October 2024</ref>
==Notes== {{reflist|group=note}}
==References== {{Reflist}} {{Commons category}} {{Raith Rovers F.C. squad}} {{Hibernian F.C. Player of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hanlon, Paul}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Edinburgh Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Scotland men's youth international footballers Category:Scotland men's under-21 international footballers Category:Scotland men's international footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale F.C. players Category:Hibernian F.C. players Category:St Johnstone F.C. players Category:Scottish Premier League players Category:Scottish Football League players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:People educated at Tynecastle High School Category:Raith Rovers F.C. players Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen