Passlack Emphasizes Collective Leadership as Hibs Target European Progress

HibernianTeam·Hibernian defender Felix PasslackPlayer·Felix Passlack has underscored the collective strength within the squad, playing down his recent stint wearing the captain's armband during a pre-season friendly. Passlack's comments arrive as the Edinburgh club sets its sights on a deeper run in the UEFA Conference League, following a commendable, albeit ultimately unsuccessful, European journey in the 2025/26 season.

Passlack, who joined HibernianTeam·Hibernian on February 2, 2026, from VfL BochumTeam·VfL Bochum, briefly led the team for 45 minutes against Shamrock RoversTeam·Shamrock Rovers. Reflecting on the experience, he stated, "When I signed here, I wanted to take responsibility. We have a lot of players who want to take responsibility, and I think that's important." This sentiment highlights a shared commitment within the squad as they look ahead to the challenges of the upcoming European campaign.

The German right-back's perspective is informed by the team's recent past. HibernianTeam·Hibernian's 2025/26 European aspirations saw them navigate a challenging path. Their journey began in the UEFA Europa LeagueCompetition·Europa League second qualifying round, a reward for finishing third in the 2024/25 Scottish Premiership. However, they were ultimately defeated by Danish side Midtjylland with a 3-2 aggregate score, which saw them drop into the UEFA Conference League third qualifying round.

In the Conference LeagueCompetition·Conference League, Hibs demonstrated resilience, overcoming Serbian club Partizan Belgrade with a dramatic 4-3 victory after extra time. This triumph propelled them into the play-off round, where they faced Polish side Legia Warsaw. Despite a valiant effort, including a spirited comeback from being 2-0 and 3-1 down in the second leg, HibernianTeam·Hibernian's bid to reach the group stage concluded with a narrow 5-4 aggregate loss after extra time. Manager David Gray expressed immense pride in the team's performance, acknowledging it as a significant European showing for the club.

HibernianTeam·Hibernian's domestic performance in the 2025/26 Scottish Premiership also laid the groundwork for their continued European involvement. Finishing fifth with 57 points from 15 wins, 12 draws, and 11 losses, the club secured qualification for the 2026/27 UEFA Conference League. This achievement marks the first time in 50 years that Hibs have qualified for back-to-back European competitions, entering the 2026/27 tournament in the second qualifying round.

As the team prepares for the new season, Passlack's emphasis on collective leadership resonates with the club's ambitions. The experience gained from their near-miss in the previous Conference LeagueCompetition·Conference League campaign, coupled with the renewed opportunity, provides a strong foundation for HibernianTeam·Hibernian to pursue further European progress.