Martin O’Neill has defended Neil Lennon’s second stint as Celtic manager.
Lennon was in the exact position that O’Neill is now, guiding the team through the league season run-in and late stages of the Scottish Cup, in 2019.
After completing the Treble Treble, Lennon was handed the job on a permanent basis, surprising many in the Celtic support. However, he proved his worth by winning the treble the following season.
Things only turned sour the following campaign, when a disastrous transfer window and season saw the Hoops squander the chance of a 10th straight league title, finishing the season trophyless.
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Celtic boss Martin O’Neill praises Neil Lennon’s ‘incredible’ career
Firstly discussing Lennon as a player, O’Neill said: “Sometimes I go and have a look and he was genuinely incredible. Considering you think, as he’s a little stout fellow, he might not be able to run.
“But he could cover the distances and he was great. Then we went up and he played a major part in us winning the trophies and staying in the top ten for four years.
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“So I then take him to Celtic. The first game he plays is against Dundee and I remember there was a report in one of the papers about a little rotund fella who couldn’t play.
“But he’s had some impact on the club since then as a player and as a manager.
“I don’t want him to win it, let me put it that way. I watched their game against Falkirk on Saturday and he was right when he said beforehand there was energy in his team.
“They showed that and they showed a real willingness. I was really impressed by them. I hadn’t seen too many of their games but I was really impressed.
“I thought they did really well. I remember watching the highlights of their game against Aberdeen, too, and after their goalkeeper made a really good save early on, they totally dominated Aberdeen.
“Look at his career. It’s incredible. He took a lot of criticism and I don’t think it was really deserved.
“Celtic were trying to go for ten-in-a-row and there was Covid. From a distance, I felt Covid suited Rangers rather than Celtic at the time, but that’s beside the point.
“When everything settles down, Lenny’s record both as a player and as a manager is incredible.
“Am I surprised he’s not working at a higher level? The short answer to that is yes.
“That’s not to say he’s not enjoying it at Dunfermline. I think he gets on really well with the chairman and the owner of the football club.
“And that says something for him. He just loves football and he loves managing. More than I did.”
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Neil Lennon’s four Scottish Cup wins as Celtic manager
The Scottish Cup was the first trophy that Lennon won as Celtic manager, with a 3-0 win over Motherwell in the final at Hampden in 2011.
Two years later, he completed a league and cup double with a win by the same scoreline (but with much better weather) against Hibs.
His third win saw his second spell go from being interim to permanent. After Odsonne Edouard’s late winner against Hearts, the story goes that Peter Lawwell offered Lennon the job in the shower area.
His final one was bittersweet. After a wild 3-3 draw with Hearts, Celtic won on penalties to secure a historic quadruple – but this was a final that had been delayed to December of the following season due to Covid, and no fans were present at the game.
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