Hibs Hungary to renew love affair with Europe

Ian Murray is almost too young to remember one of Hibs' most memorable nights in Europe, a 3-0 thrashing of Hungarian side Videoton almost 21 years ago, and the defender is certainly not old enough to recall the seemingly endless list of big names from around the continent who became regular visitors to Easter Road.

As Britain's pioneers in Europe, Hibs supporters enjoyed watching a succession of top players from the likes of Barcelona, Roma, Valencia (twice), Porto, Hamburg, Liverpool (again twice), Sporting Lisbon, Leeds United and Juventus leave their calling cards in Leith.

Videoton perhaps didn't rank among those luminaries in 1989 although they had reached the final of the old UEFA Cup four years earlier, going down 3-1 to Real Madrid, a fact which gave them more than a little credence despite being virtually unknown to the rank and file Hibs fan.

Nevertheless, Alex Miller's team of the day conjured up a game which even today is fondly recalled by those supporters who found the long journey to the drab town of Szekesfehervar 40 miles from Budapest well worth making as Keith Houchen, Gareth Evans - now a member of manager John Hughes' coaching staff - and John Collins sealed a comprehensive victory to go along with the win secured at home by Graham Mitchell's goal.

Even then, however, the torrent of European Cup, Inter-City Fairs Cup (replaced by the UEFA Cup) and Cup Winners' Cup matches in the east end of Scotland's capital was slowing to a trickle, the visit of Videoton being Hibs' first foray into Europe in more than a decade.

Since, Hibs can list an "away goals" dismissal by Belgian club Anderlecht in 1992; that memorable two-legged affair nine years later against AEK Athens in which Murray himself was involved (losing 4-3 on aggregate following a stirring 120 minutes at Easter Road) and a 5-1 drubbing by Ukrainian outfit Dnipro in 2005 while European excursions of late have been confined to the briefest of flirtations with the now defunct Inter Toto Cup.

Murray, who was enjoying a brief sojourn with Rangers as Dnipro proved too powerful for Tony Mowbray's youngsters, admits the club's recent European record looks pretty dismal, but, he argues, the Easter Road outfit aren't alone.

He said: "Outside the Old Firm there isn't a team which has dominated and qualified on a consistent basis and it's only going to get harder as the co-efficient level is going down for Scotland.Having said that, teams like Hibs, Hearts, Dundee United and Aberdeen will always be pushing to get European football."

Hibs will be given their opportunity not only to make progress in their first adventure into what is now the Europa League but to improve Scotland's standing when they either travel back to the scene of that epic win against Videoton or into uncharted waters against Maribor, Slovenia's most successful club, when the first leg of their third qualifying round takes place on 29 July.

Hughes will dispatch his right-hand man Brian Rice to watch the return leg of a tie delicately poised at 1-1 following Thursday's match in Hungary, a result which possibly gives Maribor the upper-hand with the advantage of that away goal.

The fact Hibs will enjoy home advantage in the second leg of their tie will, Murray claimed, make Hughes' side favourites.

He said: "I think the draw isn't too bad. It could have been kinder but it could have been a lot worse. I'd looked at some of the teams in the hat a few weeks ago and we've managed to avoid a few decent clubs. We'll probably be favourites with the second leg at home but it is going to be tough as they will be decent sides."

Murray conceded, however, that Hibs had been given an idea of what might lie ahead as they opened their four-match tour of Holland with a 3-0 hammering by Heracles, who finished last season sixth in the Dutch Eredevisie. He said: "They played football the way we are trying to play but they are a bit above us. We want to get there and then take the next step, it's better to learn now than in two month's time."