When Neil Lennon helped Celtic to a treble in his first season at the club in 2001, he probably didn’t think it would take him 18 years to win another. He probably didn’t think he would still be connected with Celtic nearly two decades down the line.
Fate has a funny way of weaving things. Lennon has had his ups and downs with and outwith Celtic, but here he is once again, standing on the brink of yet more history.
Lennon’s lack of another treble hasn’t been for the want of trying. The Northern Irishman has won four doubles as a player and manager since 2001. He’s tasted his fair share of Hampden heartache as well as Hampden joy. He hopes that this weekend will see the latter.
Lennon is a Celtic legend
The commonly held view that Neil Lennon isn’t the man to take the club forward after the summer shouldn’t detract from what he has achieved since coming to our rescue in February.
Celtic were in dire straits when Brendan Rodgers walked out on the club 24 hours before a crucial league match at Tynecastle. Lennon came in at a minutes notice and has since kept the train on track where others may have allowed it to be derailed.
The football hasn’t been spectacular by any means but few will remember that in a decades time. What they will remember is the lifting of a third successive treble. Celtic are just 90 minutes away from doing that.
Neil Lennon’s finest hour may still be to come.
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