Neil Lennon has previewed facing Martin O’Neill in the Scottish Cup final.
The manager-player partnership lasted ten years with both Leicester City and Celtic, bringing success to both clubs.
Lennon has consistently cited O’Neill as his biggest influence since moving into management, which saw him spend six years in the Parkhead dugout across two spells.
The pair have never faced off as managers, and will now do so when the Hoops face Dunfermline in the final at Hampden on May 23rd.
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Speaking to Max Rushden and Andy Jacobs on talkSPORT, Lennon was asked if the O’Neill factor helps, replying:”No, I think it’s more of a disadvantage, really, because of how close we’ve been.
“I’ve known Martin for 30 years, and I played under him for ten.
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“And obviously, he’s been a real mentor and support to me throughout my managerial career as well.
“He’s the biggest influence on my career, so it’s going to be a little bit different for me, for sure. It could be his last game, so I think it’s quite poignant.
“But I don’t know how to feel, Max, to be honest with you. I’ve got mixed emotions about it as it is, because I love the guy so much, you know?
“It’s going to be weird being in the opposition dugout for the first time ever.
“I’m looking forward to [the game]. I just hope we start the game well, Andy, and we don’t get stagefright. But like I say, we’ve knocked out three [Premiership] teams already.
“So these young lads, nothing seems to faze them at the minute. But we are coming up against, well, the champions for 13 out of 14 years.
“So we know how difficult the tie is, but we know how exciting and rewarding it could be at the end of it.”
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Neil Lennon’s Scottish Cup finals with Celtic
Lennon has won the Scottish Cup four times as a player with Celtic, and has since gone on to rack up the same number as a manager. He has never lost in the final of the competition.
He bounced back from disappointment in the league to lift the trophy with a 3-0 win over Motherwell in 2011, beating Hibs in the final in the club’s 125th anniversary season in 2013.
Peter Lawwell infamously offered him the permanent job in the shower area after Odsonne Edouard’s late winner sealed the Treble Treble in 2019.
The following season was curtailled due to the pandemic, delaying the final to December, when the Celts prevailed on penalties to beat a then-Championship side in Hearts.
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