Marink Reedjijk will lead Hibs into his first game at Easter Road with Felix Passlack keeping the captaincy for the visit of Falkirk, as the new manager looks to turn Leith into a stronger home ground from the outset.
Reedjijk said he is “very much looking forward” to having the first game at Easter Road for himself and the staff, and added that he wants to see where his side are compared with last week. It is a simple message, but an important one: this is not just about getting a result, it is about setting a standard.
Fortress football starts at home
The Hibs manager made clear what he wants to see. “It’s important to win, but it’s also important we show a certain braveness, front-foot defending, front-foot attacking and that we have an atmosphere in the stadium, which is like Easter Road has to be,” he said.
That is the clearest sign yet of the tone Reedjijk wants to set. He is asking for a team that plays on the front foot, but also one that brings the stadium with it. For a first home game in charge, that matters almost as much as the result itself.
Passlack keeps the armband
The other notable call is leadership. Reedjijk confirmed that Felix Passlack will remain captain, saying: “Felix did a very good job last week. I spoke with Martin about this, so we’re going to continue in this way. At the moment, I see Felix as the captain on the pitch.”
That is a firm statement of trust. It also suggests Reedjijk is not interested in changing everything at once. He is keeping one of the more visible decisions stable while he works on building something more permanent around it.
What it means for Martin Boyle
There is also a small but useful detail around Martin Boyle. Last week, he was not in the starting XI before regaining his place, which shows Reedjijk is still willing to adjust the forward line based on form and balance.
That flexibility will matter if Hibs are to make Easter Road feel like a fortress. Reedjijk has already made clear that he wants bravery, energy and front-foot football. The Falkirk visit is now his first chance to show that those ideas can be translated into a home performance, not just spoken about in the build-up.
And with Passlack retained as captain, the message is also clear on the pitch: Hibs are starting this new phase with a steady hand and a defined structure, even as the manager asks for more urgency and authority from his team.
