Grant Hanley: Scotland's Resilient Defender Proves His Worth in Greece
In the world of heavyweight boxing, legendary fighter Smokin' Joe Frazier once expressed his passion for the fight game by saying, "I love it like a hog loves slop." That same sentiment perfectly encapsulates Grant Hanley's approach to defending for Scotland in their crucial 1-0 victory over Greece in Piraeus.
On his 60th cap, Hanley embodied the essence of defensive grit, making more clearances than he's had minutes on the pitch in over a month. The 33-year-old Birmingham defender threw himself at everything – blocks, tackles, clearances – during a second half of relentless Greek pressure. When it appeared he might have conceded a penalty in the dying moments, Hanley remained composed despite what must have been a heart-pounding situation.
What makes Hanley's performance truly remarkable is his lack of regular playing time. His recent club appearances read like a numerical riddle: one minute against Stevenage, two against Lincoln, one against Reading, another against Bradford, and five against Charlton. The last time he started for Birmingham was February 4th, with his two other league starts coming back in August 2023 for Norwich – both ending in defeat.
Despite this sporadic club involvement, Scotland manager Steve Clarke continues to trust Hanley implicitly. Clarke overlooked Scott McKenna, a regular starter for Las Palmas in La Liga who has faced off against Barcelona's Robert Lewandowski and Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr. and Kylian Mbappe. Instead, he chose Hanley, the player who often draws groans from fans when his name appears on the team sheet.
The same trust was extended to Anthony Ralston at right-back, another player who rarely starts for his club Celtic – just five starts in a 30-game league season. Together with John Souttar and Andy Robertson, they formed a defensive wall that Greece simply couldn't breach.
This isn't the first time Hanley has performed beyond expectations despite minimal club minutes. Before Scotland's October fixtures against Croatia and Portugal, he had played just two minutes of club football in six weeks. Yet he completed full matches against both nations, including keeping a clean sheet against Portugal's star-studded attack featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Bruno Fernandes, and Diogo Jota.
November's international window told a similar story – Hanley's preparation consisted of just 15 minutes for his club, but he played every minute as Scotland defeated both Croatia and Poland.
Hanley isn't the prototype of a modern center-back. You won't see him spraying passes from the back or showcasing technical excellence. Mistakes occasionally creep into his game. But when it comes to mental fortitude and sheer determination, few can match him. As Tom English writes for BBC Sport, "In the business of bottle, he's up there."
At 33, with limited club opportunities, Hanley has every reason to believe his time might be running out. Yet he refuses to accept that narrative, continuing to fight for his place and excelling when called upon. For a manager like Clarke who values resilience and perseverance, Hanley represents the ideal soldier – a player who has been written off, left out, and cast aside, but who always answers the call when Scotland needs him most.
In Piraeus, the great survivor survived once more. And there was justice in that.
