Celtic and British footballing legend Kenny Dalglish has labeled the decision to make Neil Lennon the manager of the club as a “great” one.
Lennon came in amid plenty of controversy, with supporters seething at how Brendan Rodgers left the club to join Leicester City. Many will have viewed him as a downgrade, and there remained a large element who didn’t want him even after the Premiership title and Scottish Cup were secured.
However, the Northern Irishman was given the gig on a permanent basis and has gone on from strength to strength since then. Celtic managed to secure yet another Premiership crown last season, and would likely have secured the treble had the Scottish Cup not been pushed back due to the global pandemic.
His second spell at the club can already be labeled trophy-laden, and as Dalglish previewed the weekend’s Glasgow derby fixture, he only had praise for Lennon.
As quoted by the Sunday Post, Dalglish said: “Looking more closely at Neil’s record at Celtic in his second stint in charge, he has been great for the club. Celtic turned to Neil and he delivered success by getting the League title over the line and then the Scottish Cup for another Treble.
“Neil had worked wonders at Hibernian but some may well have been surprised that the Hoops hierarchy turned to him to succeed Brendan. But he has repaid their faith.
“Sure, he hasn’t managed to get over the line by qualifying for the Champions League. But he has delivered Europa League football and got to the final-32 last season. Winning 10-in-a-row will be the ultimate aim for Neil in the next eight months and rightly so. It’s what the supporters want, above all else.”
Lennon’s achievements would’ve been idolised had Rodgers secured them
Lennon was never the fashionable appointment, and that’s something he’s suffered from ever since he took the job from Rodgers back in 2019.
Yes, the football could’ve been better at times. This season, for example, Celtic are struggling to click. However, had this been Rodgers in charge, it’s difficult to imagine the narrative being anything other than the fact he’s churning out results whilst trying to get his team motoring.
Let’s also not forget what Lennon has done for us in Europe. Managing to top a Europa League group for the first time and bagging our first ever win in Italy? Again, that’s something Rodgers would’ve been idolised for – yet away-day success was never something he came close to achieving at Parkhead.
Celtic have started the season with a superb 11 wins from 13 competitive matches. That’s a terrific stat and one that isn’t recognised enough.
Lennon has his faults. A stubbornness to change his systems as well as almost an urge not to do what fans are crying out for can be two of his most frustrating traits. However, you can’t say his second spell hasn’t been a success so far.
He’s continued to keep Steven Gerrard from getting his hands on anything in Scotland with the exception of runners’ up medals. Hopefully, he can keep that going again this season.
In other news, a Celtic duo shined on international duty last night alongside a Borussia Dortmund superstar.
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