Celtic fans may be filled with some optimism when they take a look at Neil Lennon’s Champions League qualification record.
The Northern Irishman takes his new-look Celtic side over to Bosnia for their Euro opener on Tuesday night. Hoops fans may know little about opponents FK Sarajevo but they will take comfort from Lennon’s impressive record during his first stint as boss.
Lennon’s Champions League qualification record in numbers
Lennon has presided over six Champions League qualification ties thus far, and won five.
His only two-legged defeat was in his very first taste of the competition as boss – against Braga in 2010. Celtic lost 4-2 to the slick Portuguese outfit and were eliminated from Europe as a result. However, it is worth pointing out that the tie came in the ‘League route’ of qualification and not the ‘Champions route’ we’re used to now.
On the subject of our favourite path, Lennon’s record is faultless. The Northern Irishman has taken charge of five ties and won them all. Helsinki, Helsingborgs, Cliftonville, Elfsborg and Shakhter Karagandy have all fallen victim to Lennon’s Celtic and that must bode well for this coming season.
The Northern Irishman has won eight of those ten matches, with his only defeat coming away to Karagandy in 2013. There’s a long road ahead of Celtic this summer but at least they have a man who has proven he has what it takes.
Lennon knows what these early season pressure matches are all about. He’ll have the players prepped for what to expect. That’s got to be a good thing.
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