CELTIC History Bhoy Neil Lennon celebrates his 53rd birthday today.
The gritty Northern Irishman is the only individual in the club’s proud history to play AND manage the team to a domestic clean sweep of silverware.
Lennon achieved the feat after being brought to Parkhead by Martin O’Neill in December 2000 in a £6million switch from Leicester City.
And he completed the phenomenal silverware feat when he led the Hoops to a Scottish Cup victory in the Covid-delayed Final against Hearts at Hampden on December 20 2020.
HISTORY BHOY…Neil Lennon celebrates Celtic’s Scottish Cup victory over Hearts in December 2020 – the win that made him unique in Celtic history.
A nerve-wracking showpiece occasion finished 3-3 after extra-time before Kristoffer Ajer lashed the decisive penalty-kick past former team-mate Craig Gordon in the spot-kick shoot-out to claim the astonishing quadruple treble.
Lennon had seen a goal from Christopher Jullien, bought for £7million from Toulouse in June 2019, win the League Cup against Steven Gerrard’s Ibrox outfit in December that year.
He had already added the ninth consecutive championship in a campaign that had to be prematurely ended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Unfortunately, the bid for a historic tenth successive crown went off the rails and Lennon exited the club in February 2021 with Ange Postecoglou eventually arriving four months later.
FINAL FAREWELL…Neil Lennon says goodbye to the Celtic fans after the 3-1 Scottish Cup win over Dunfermline in May 2007, his last appearance as a Hoops player.
The boyhood Celtic fan, though, can look back with immense pride at his achievements on the field and in the dug-out.
As a player, he lifted five leagues, five Scottish Cup and two League Cups.
As a manager, he won five titles, three Scottish Cups and one League Cup.
It’s a praiseworthy record that deserves the utmost respect.
Happy birthday, Lenny!
