When Grant Hanley stepped onto the pitch in Piraeus, few would have expected him to be Scotland’s defensive rock. A player who has barely featured at club level in recent months, thrust into a high-stakes Nations League play-off against a relentless Greece side—it seemed a gamble. But by the final whistle, Hanley had justified Steve Clarke’s unwavering faith in him, delivering a performance filled with resilience, grit, and sheer determination in Scotland’s 1-0 win.
From the opening whistle, the Birmingham City centre-back was in his element. Blocks, clearances, tackles—Hanley threw himself into everything. As Greece turned up the pressure in the second half, he remained an immovable force, repelling cross after cross, standing firm in the face of wave after wave of Greek attacks.
Then came the moment of anxiety. In the dying stages of the game, Hanley seemed to have conceded a penalty, only for the referee to wave play on. His expression never wavered, but his heart must have been racing. In the end, Scotland held on—and Hanley’s contribution was crucial.
Clarke’s decision to start Hanley raised eyebrows. The defender had played just 10 minutes of league football in the past month, a forgotten figure at club level. Scott McKenna, playing regular football in La Liga with Las Palmas, seemed a more obvious choice.
Yet, Clarke stuck with Hanley, just as he had done in previous international windows when the defender had been starved of game time. Time and again, Hanley has been doubted. Time and again, he has delivered.
His story is one of mental fortitude. He may not be the most stylish centre-back. He won’t glide out of defence and play eye-catching passes. But when it comes to sheer bottle, there are few like him.
Hanley wasn’t the only surprise performer. Anthony Ralston, rarely used at Celtic, was equally tenacious at right-back. Despite his limited club minutes, he too produced a defiant display.
For Clarke, loyalty to battle-hardened warriors like Hanley and Ralston is no accident. He values players who thrive under adversity, who can block out the noise and deliver when it matters.
At 33, Hanley knows his time in the Scotland shirt is limited. But as long as he’s needed, he’ll keep fighting, keep blocking, keep battling—just as he did in Greece.
And for all the doubts, he keeps proving why Clarke continues to trust him.
