Forgotten man Lennon so keen to get back into manager’s seat
NEIL LENNON boasts one of the most impressive managerial CVs in the game.
But since quitting Celtic nine months ago, the 50-year-old is now competing with the new breed of young managers.
While his former Old Firm rival Steven Gerrard heads to Aston Villa having previously been touted for every top post in the Premier League, Lennon’s name rarely gets a mention when jobs come up.
“It’s frustrating,” said the former Northern Ireland international, who still lives in Glasgow.
“Some people probably assume that I’m not looking for a return to management because of the way it ended at Celtic.
“But nothing could be further from the truth.
“I’m still relatively young, as hungry as ever and believe I would bring something to any club that appointed me.
“And I’d like to think my record as a manager compares favourably to most.”
You can say that again.
During his first spell at Celtic, for whom he made 214 appearances as a player, Lennon masterminded one of the biggest shocks of modern times when the Hoops beat a starstudded Barcelona side, boasting Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andres Iniesta, with a 2-1 win at Parkhead nine years ago this month.
And that’s not to mention the haul of trophies he accumulated between 2010 and 2014 before returning to the club following Brendan Rodgers’ departure and carrying on winning silverware.
But it was the title Lennon damaged his prospects of landing a top job.
Celtic’s failure to land a historic 10th title in a row hit him hard and with Rangers cruising to their first title in a decade, he resigned on February 24.
Suddenly, Gerrard was flavour of the month with Lennon (below) consigned to history.
He said: “Some players just got to the end of the road.
“The pandemic hit us badly because once we returned to action, we were never the same again. But I look back with satisfaction at what I did achieve.
“And while I’d have loved to have created history by winning that 10th title, one or two people have short memories.
“During my final spell at Celtic, we won five out of seven trophies which isn’t bad, is it?”
And while the Hoops failed in their top mission last season, it’s only 11 months since they won the 2020 Scottish Cup, beating Hearts in a final delayed due to Covid.
Clearly, Lennon is no busted flush.
Yet there must be days when the exLeicester midfielder wonders if that’s the new perception of him.
Lennon isn’t one for self-pity but it must hurt when he doesn’t even get a reply to some job applications.
“It is a bit of a mystery,” he says.
“I think I’ve done a decent job wherever I’ve been. Even at Bolton, I kept the club up in my first season despite the financial problems there.
“And while Rangers weren’t always strong during the period I managed Celtic, winning four Trebles took some doing.”