‘Fitted right in’- Neil Lennon says current manager who only played 14 Celtic games was ‘outstanding’

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Neil Lennon played alongside some legendary players during his time at Celtic.

The man himself was an outstanding midfielder, a leader of men, and one of the most inspiring players to have donned the famous green and white colours.

Lennon has previously stated that Henrik Larsson is Celtic’s greatest-ever player, and that’s probably an opinion many would agree with.

But when the King of Kings departed in 2004, it was a body blow for all, and they are shoes nobody has been able to fill since.

However, the man who briefly took up goalscoring responsibility soon after Larsson departed left a very good impression on Lennon.

• READ MORE: Craig Bellamy recalls the ‘immense’ Celtic moment during Rangers game that made him want to stay

Neil Lennon on Craig Bellamy at Celtic

Craig Bellamy’s stint at Celtic was short, and in truth, it should have been much longer, and it was a crying shame it wasn’t.

But for the brief period he was in Glasgow, the now-Wales manager wowed his teammates, including Lennon, calling him ‘outstanding’ and somebody who ‘fitted right in’ at Celtic.

Open Goal host Si Ferry was a youngster coming through at Celtic at the time, and even he noted the brilliance of Bellamy, as Lennon continued to explain how he loved the Welshman’s ‘very intense’ nature.

Si Ferry stated: “Bellamy was the perfect replacement (for Larsson). What a player.”

Lennon responded: “Bellamy was awesome, and what a character.”

Ferry then added: “He drove in with his Ferrari on his first day. I remember that.”

Lennon then continued: “We said, ‘you need to get rid of that, mate. You are in Glasgow. That won’t last long around here’.

“He was brilliant. You could imagine him and Sutty (Sutton) together, but he was tops. Brilliant. Outstanding footballer. Very intense, but funny with it.

“He loved it (the Celtic group), because you had all of these big characters, and he fitted right in. You see him as the Wales coach. A really high IQ of football. Top, top player.”

Bellamy’s career in numbers

When Bellamy joined Celtic during the January transfer window of 2005, he had a falling out with then-Newcastle United boss Graeme Souness.

Despite the issues with Souness, that’s the most appearances Bellamy made for a club in his career (128), including representing nine clubs in total.

You just know, if Bellamy played a few seasons for Celtic, then he would have piled up the medals, as well as scored goals for fun.

Especially given that a man like Gordon Strachan, who followed O’Neill, would have worked wonders for him, after they worked together at Coventry City.