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Scotsman
25-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Sunderland ace seals magic turnaround from Hibs struggle and books star's Premier League spot
A former Hibs star is going to the Premier League with Sunderland - and seals a possible top flight chance for an ace who's thrived in Leith. Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A former Hibs player has helped Sunderland to the Premier League - and sent a thriving Hibee along for the ride. Eliezer Mayenda spent the second half of the 23/24 campaign on loan at Hibs but exited quietly after just four outings with no goals or assists. He arrived alongside Nectar Triantis from the Black Cats and while the defender turned all action midfielder had a second coming at Hibs to great affect, Mayenda stayed to fight for his place at Sunderland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He has managed to do so to in stunning fashion, scoring one of the goals in their 2-1 Championship play-off final win at Wembley against Sheffield United. It books Sunderland's place back in the Premier League after Tommy Watson's late effort sparked emotional scenes at England's national stadium, capping off an incredible comeback story for Mayenda, who's netted 10 goals this season. Former Hibs star helps book Sunderland return to Premier League Commentator Daniel Mann said as the ball flew in: 'Well finally they put it together and that is the result, Sunderland have suddenly produced a magic moment out of nowhere.' What it means for Triantis remains to be seen, now that his parent club have reached the Premier League, with a possible top flight chance in England opening up. Hibs will likely be keen to have him again ahead of their European qualifiers in July plus defence of Scotland's third spot. He became a virtual ever-present in David Gray's midfield and form had him nominated for the SFWA Player of the Year award. Mayenda said of his first season at Sunderland earlier this month to the Athletic, which included the spell at Hibs: 'Last season was my first season and when I started training with my new team-mates I said to my dad, 'We've a good a team here, we just need patience'. If we get patience, we can do something here, because these are good young players. I said it to supporters last season, 'Patience. Let the players work, let the players work. The results will come'. When I saw the name Sunderland, I said to my dad that I didn't want to go to the French First Division, I want to go to Sunderland. It was just my feeling, I can't tell you why exactly, it was just a natural connection. Sunderland was special. I knew it was historic in England, it had been in the Premier League and everyone has seen the documentary on Netflix.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Former Hibs man had unexpected chance His boss, Regis Le Bris, said of Mayenda during the play-off run: 'He got an unexpected opportunity. It's rare when you work with your lineup at the start of the season and say: 'This player will play 25 games, we can build a pathway for him'. More often, a player is in the squad but not really a starter. 'Then there is an injury and a player will seize this opportunity, because he is connected. He will say: 'I'm here and I will show you'. The best players in the world are like that and Eli showed this quality. Even he didn't expect this season. Now it's a question of consistency.'
Daily Record
16-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Record
Daizen Maeda scoops another Celtic award as he drops future hint with trophy cabinet running out of space
Maeda has been named the Scottish Football Writers' Association Player of the Year in the latest addition to his collection Daizen Maeda says he's putting contract talks on the back burner to concentrate on winning another Treble with Celtic, after being named the SFWA Player of the Year. The Japanese sensation has been in explosive form this term, scoring 33 goals and hoovering up every top individual award including the SFWA gong which he was unsurprisingly handed tonight. Boss Brendan Rodgers has made it clear he wants to extend the fans' favourite's current deal beyond 2027. But with the Hoops also braced for big-money offers, Maeda hinted that he'll wait and see what the summer brings before committing to a new contract. Maeda said: "This is a world where you never know what's going to happen next. "This a good team but I need to think about what comes next with my family and everything. Now my focus is on this team. "I'm not thinking a lot right now because there's still a game to play. I'm thinking about how I spend my day off, so we'll just get the games done, then let's see what happens." Maeda has lifted an astonishing eight trophies in just three-and-a-half seasons since his bargain £1.7million move from Yokohama F. Marinos. He also wrote his name in the club's history books by bagging four Champions League goals this campaign—the most since Joe Craig in 1977/78. Maeda had Bayern Munich's superstars raving about him after terrorising the Bundesliga giants' defence in February's agonising playoff defeat. And if the 27-year-old decides to stay in Glasgow, Maeda believes the Parkhead side can progress even further in Europe next term. He said: "Everyone said we did a great performance in the Champions League but we didn't go through to the next stage. I think there's something missing in our team. So for the next seasons, I think we should try to go to the next stage." Privately, Maeda well have ambitions to play in one of Europe's top five leagues. He's already had a taste of Portuguese football after a season-long stint at Marítimo in 2019-20. Maeda scored four in 24 appearances and believes he wouldn't have returned to his homeland had the Covid pandemic not brought the world to a halt. He said: "I don't think it didn't work well because I was playing for the club. It's just the timing of that club was before and during covid and I had to make a decision for the family. "It all came to an end, there was a decision to go back. If there hadn't been covid I would have stayed in Europe. It is what it is." Maeda must be running out of space on his mantlepiece after adding the Scottish Football Writers' Player of the Year prize to his ever-growing collection. He added: "I'm very happy to receive the award. I think teammates come first and it's because of them I have received this award. "After that it's managers, coaches, staff, and also of course my parents. I'm really pleased to receive this award for them."
Scotsman
13-05-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Pundit spots trump card that could extend key star's stay at Hibs
Watch more of our videos on and on Freeview 262 or Freely 565 Visit Shots! now He is spending time on loan at Hibs from Sunderland, who are in the English Championship. Sign up to our Hibs football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A pundit has told Hibs that their placement in European competition could determine whether or not Sunderland loanee Nectar Triantis stays beyond this season. Head coach David Gray has turned him from defender to all action midfielder and it has worked wonders. He has been nominated for the SFWA Player of the Year, scooped Hibs' Young Player of the Year and has been called up to the Australian national team as part of a stellar campaign. This is his second loan at the club, after spending six months in Leith last term from Sunderland. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hibs are in the driving seat for third and that placement coupled with a Celtic victory in the Scottish Cup final vs Aberdeen would seal a league phase place in either the Europa League or Conference League next season. Nectar Triantis future assessed What happens in the summer is unknown, with parent club Sunderland currently in the Championship play-offs and vying for a return to the Premier League. English pundit Lee Hendrie reckons that it's Hibs' place in Europe which could persuade all parties that the Premiership is the best place for Triantis. The former Aston Villa man told Football League World: "Hibs, obviously hoping for (the strongest) European football, and they have the services of young Sunderland defender Triantis. Obviously, he's a young talent that's definitely got bags of potential, creativity. He's got goals in him and had a good season up at Hibs. "The luxury of maybe trying to play in Europe and forecasting your skills and flair might suit him better. Will Sunderland stand in his way? That's the big question. Is he going to feature in that Sunderland side? They're a young side that are certainly up and coming, I think he'd fit the bill to come back to Sunderland and play a big part. Obviously managers have different ideas and whether he's gone out to strengthen or he's gone to Scotland to get that feel-factor which he's had a taste of. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad "It'll be an interesting one, whether they do stand in his way, because you do feel letting young players go early on, and then they go and perform in European competitions. It's a big thing for a football club to let players like that go. I think he might've gone out to have that taste, and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't let him go. I think they'd set their sights on maybe keeping him for next season after the season he's had up there.' Nectar Triantis on season so far at Hibs Speaking on his development at Easter Road last week, the Socceroos man said: 'This has been one of my first proper full seasons in midfield in professional football, it has been a big learning curve for me but one that I am taking in my stride. I have really enjoyed the new position, the role the gaffer has given me and I think everyone can see that this season. 'I am just taking it game-by-game, I haven't really thought too much about next season. Football is a mental game, we have beaten them already this season and we have confidence and belief that we can go there and get a result.'
Edinburgh Reporter
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Edinburgh Reporter
David Gray and Nectar Triantis shortlisted for football writers awards
Gray has been shortlisted for the William Hill Manager of the Year Award, alongside Celtic's Brendan Rodgers, Aberdeen's Jimmy Thelin and Falkirk's John McGlynn. Gray has been nominated for a remarkable 2024/25 campaign which saw his side equal the club's longest post-war unbeaten run in the Scottish top-flight of 17 games. The Hibs head coach also picked up three Scottish Premiership Manager of the Month awards, with the team currently leading the race for third place with three games to go. In addition, Nectar Triantis has been nominated for the SFWA Player of the Year. Triantis has been a standout performer in the middle of the park for Hibs – making 33 appearances so far this season. The 21-year-old has nine goal contributions to date (three goals and six assists) and his performances caught the eye of Australia Head Coach Tony Popovic who called him up to his senior squad for the first time. Triantis has been nominated alongside Celtic pair Callum McGregor and Daizen Maeda and Dundee's Simon Murray who previously played for Hibs. The awards are shortlisted and voted for by the Scottish Football Writers' Association members – with the official awards night taking place on Sunday 18 May in Glasgow. Like this: Like Related
The Courier
07-05-2025
- Sport
- The Courier
Dundee ace Simon Murray in second Player of the Year nomination
Simon Murray is up for a second Player of the Year award. Image: Mark Scates/SNS Simon Murray has secured a second nomination for a Player of the Year award after the Scottish Football Writers' Association picked out their top talents of season 2024/25. The Dundee ace has been on fire in front of goal this season, netting 22 goals in all competitions. Sixteen of those have come in the Premiership and manager Tony Docherty is backing his frontman to finish as the division's top scorer. Murray is level with Celtic's Daizen Maeda in the race to the top and is once more up against the Japan international for the SFWA Player of the Year. Simon Murray finds the net against St Mirren. Image: Mark Scates/SNS Nominated alongside Murray and Maeda is Celtic captain Callum McGregor after another stellar year for the Hoops alongside Hibs midfielder Nectarios Triantis. The SWFA Young Player of the Year nominations include Lennon Miller of Motherwell, James Wilson of Hearts and Kilmarnock pair David Watson and Bobby Wales. And vying for SWFA Manager of the Year are Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers, Hibs gaffer David Gray, Jimmy Thelin of Aberdeen and Falkirk's Championship-winning manager John McGlynn. The award winners will be announced on Sunday, May 18, with Dundee technical director Gordon Strachan joining Joe Jordan and John Gagahan in entertaining guests at the dinner. Tags
