Neil Lennon would love to still be a manager when the next decade dawns
10 years as a boss has taught the Hoops gaffer a lot
Ne i l L e n n o n w i l l lean on the lessons learned from a decade in management as he plots Celtic’s recovery from derby day defeat.
The Irishman got his first start in the role when put in caretaker charge of the Hoops in March, 2010, following the sacking of Tony Mowbray.
In his opening two league matches, he oversaw wins against Kilmarnock and Hibs – but it is what happened next that everybody remembers.
Ross County, then lying fourth in the old First Division, pulled off one of the Scottish Cup’s great shocks by beating the Hoops to claim a place in the competition’s Final. Lennon was furious and said he would be recommending a clear out to the board.
His candour must have impressed because he was appointed as manager, a decision that was to be vindicated by the capture of three titles and two Scottish Cups in the space of the next four years.
And while his switch to Bolton Wanderers has to go down as a mistake, his subsequent success in leading Hibs to the Championship title and a fourthplace finish in the top flight earned him his second spell as Celtic manager.
Once again, his initial position was a temporary one, but his success in completing a Treble chase started off by Brendan Rodgers got the word “interim” dropped from his job description.
“I’ve had some tough times in management, and that’s been a good experience for me – even in a bad way,” said Lennon.
“I say that because they give you perspective.
“In the good times, you can reflect and enjoy them more and push yourself even harder.
“If you take Bolton as the example, it was tough. But looking back, there was nothing I could do there really.
“We kept them up the first year, which was good because when we took over they were bottom of the league. “Then the money just stopped. We weren’t aware of it but we had to cut the wage bill by 50%.
“Then they went into administration. “Things were being sold in front of you. You’d sit at your desk one day, and the next thing the removal van comes in and takes it.
“Helping out with players’ wages and things like that. They were a decent bunch of boys and they didn’t deserve that. Bolton never really recovered. “They’ve still got problems now, so I look back on that with a bit of fondness. It was tough, but it was also a good learning curve.
“So 10 years of management, it’s a nice milestone.
“I think I’ve done more than 500 games and I wouldn’t have envisaged that when I first took over.
“I think overall I’m in a great place. I don’t think you suffer the losses so badly or take them so personally now. You can be more philosophical about it.
“And it’s the same with the wins. You don’t get too carried away. You enjoy the win and then look forward to the next game.
“If there was advice I could give my younger self, that would be it – ‘Calm down and take a step back sometimes to smell the roses’.”
With a little persuasion, the Celtic boss is also prepared to assess the prospects of getting another decade in management.
“If I do that, it would be brilliant,” said the 48- year- old, laughing at the thought of how tired he might be by the beginning of 2030.
“We’ve had a lot of success, and I’m hoping for more of the same next year. “Getting the League Cup was a nice landmark for myself, so I’ve got the three of them.
“Once you get a taste of it, you want more.
“Europe has been a big thing, too, and we are still in it with the Copenhagen games to look forward to.
“So the second half of the season will be as exciting as the first.”
I’ve had some tough times in management, and that’s been good for me – even in a bad way. The bad spells give you some perspective and you can enjoy the good times more