Neil Lennon ‘got’ Celtic. He was a rookie appointment, and the early weeks were far from comfortable, a Hampden defeat to Ross County looked like an ominous early sign, but from the start of his first preseason he didn’t look back.
He was a hugely successful Celtic manager in Scotland and in Europe. The Barcelona team of the last six years, possibly the greatest team in history, were at their peak when they visited Celtic Park in November 2012. Neil came up with the game plan which brought Celtic victory and raised our profile across Europe.
What he had to endure off-field during his time at Celtic was atrocious and a blight on our society. But he overcame it. He stuck it out when you or I may have left, and now he leaves on his own terms – an undisputed winner.
More at another time on who next, but if we get a man nearly as capable we will be doing well.
Take care, Neil.
1,817 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- ...
- 48
- »
Michael Laudrup for me
Anyway, people change jobs all the time!
So they do!
What’s all the fuss about?
Been out walking in the sunny hills of Southern Spain when my son sent a text with the news.
Great sadness about Neil’s departure but frankly no real surprise. He was not going to stick with it forever so, in my case, he goes with my grateful thanks that a true Celt has led the club with distinction and success . He goes with my heartfelt thanks and best wishes for his future career, whatever that is.
He will always be a Celtic man, part of the Celtic family and always welcome at Celtic Park.
Hun Skelper
I was goin to say that.!!! Superb!!
Neil left due to concerns over his budget, and some people are touting a guy who spent £26m on Fellaini?????
Thanks & Respect to Neil Lennon.
Sally Magnusson ” a divisive figure off the pitch”…..
I don’t expect this to be a popular view…
I’d give the new manager limited budget. Let’s see what he can do with a little before we entrust him
With a lot?
We will win the league however much he is given. Europe is unlikely target however much he is given also..
No one who was there on the night we beat Barca will ever forget that night. For that alone Neil, thank you, thank you, thank you.
I’m not happy with this.
Disappointed.
Disappointed at the timing.
Disappointed at the handling.
Disappointed at the lack of forward planning.
Disappointed in the manager’s actions.
Disappointed in the board’s lack of action.
Disappointed that the boot room philosophy has not yet bore fruit.
Disappointed.
The next CFC manager will be someone who plays golf and likes horse racing!
DD will choose him.
Best wishes to Neil and his family.
HH!!
Gutted to see Neil go.
Thanks for giving me one the best night’s of my life beating Barca.
As for his replacement, I see Paul Hartley going places but think it’s a year or two early.
Would be completely underwhlemed by McNamara or Larsson. Jackie’s results with Dundee Utd were inconsistent and they were well beaten in the cup final.
As much as I love the guy, Larsson has done nothing to suggest he is a manager. People do realise he won’t be playing?! I’m not sure if I believe the Bangura story but even still emotional appointments rarely work.
I’m guessing these are the same people who were hero worshipping Roy Keane when he came up for a few kick abouts.
Steve Clarke, Malky MacKay, David Moyes or Paul Lambert I could live with. If our budget is lower then I hope we can be more imaginative than Larsson, McNamara or Coyle.
Still disgusted on how the news was released Peter Lawell about time you explained……
See you NL…
SPC
Something inside so strong. God Bless Neil Lennon.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
Paul67,
Any view as to why there has been ( as yet), no club statement?
Are they looking to do a double by announcing the departure and new arrival simultaneously.
My only hope is that rather than start with names, we start with the job spec and type of manager we want, and then look to fill it.
My job spec would be
– Minimum 8 years coaching / management, preferably at 2 or more clubs
– Experience outside Scotland either as player or coach
– Over achieved & can demonstrate managing under pressure
– Would quickly bond with fans
– Can manage a hostile press
– Can work with the board and choose his battles
– Commitment to attacking football and youth development, but doesn’t use them as excuse for under achievement.
– Tactically astute and good motivator
Lastly, let’s look at the guys who have been successes in recent years, and those who haven’t, and learn the lessons from Barnes and Mowbray.
Wonder if they would go for Paul Lambert?
Tallybhoy
The next CFC manager will be someone who plays golf and likes horse racing!
—-
Sur Furious omg !
I suspect his ambitions were stifled by board policy.
I will always support the hoops no matter, that does not mean I am happy with the apparent lack of ambition displayed by the board.
Frankly am quite gutted… just when things started looking up squad wise and tactic wise under Neil’s management.. he seemed to be finding his groove..
Good luck Neil with whatever the future holds and thanks for your time with us! You are a true Celtic man in my eyes..
What do Lennon, Mjällby and others know that we don’t? In Mjällby’s last interview on Celtic TV he says (I am paraphrasing) “The club is in very good shape at the moment and I want to leave when things are good”. It sounded to me like he was suggesting that the proverbial shit may be about to hit the fan.
HH
WHY IS THE OFFICIAL CELTIC WEBSITE NOT CARRYING THIS STORY THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIRST WITH THE NEWS ,BLOODY USELESS
Few established managers would want the Celtic job, constriants on spending, knowing that there is every chance your best players will be punted each season to the highest bidder and as we suspect having ‘projects’ signed without your approval.
I am of the opnion we will get another ‘ management project’. I’m for Henke returning but only with an experienced coach alongside him. However if Davie Moyes is interested, which i would doubt lets go for him.
The new manager usually signs some of his former players.
Now if we get Moyes………….RVP and Rooney anyone?
GlassTwoThirdsFull –
How do you know he left because of problems with the budget?
Care to share it with the rest of us?
!!bada bing!!
13:34 on 22 May, 2014
Laudrup not for me.
I do hear that the interest from some reputable managers is intense. However, I suspect this may diminish as they learn of the available budget.
Keep the Faith!
Hail Hail!
A sad day for me. A huge thank you to Neil for all that he achieved, one of our own, always will be, I wish him every success in the future.
CultsBhoy
I wouldn’t be so sure about winning the league no matter what. A disastrous appointment with a small budget and transition period etc could see us run close if Aberdeen put a run together. We need to get this right.
Stranger things have happened.
‘GG
13:25 on
22 May, 2014
Nothing on Celtic site as of 30 seconds ago.
Somebody caught by surprise?
Had this been handled properly then it would have been announced first there.
It suggests the club is not in control
The whole thing does seem rather amateurishly handled and it’s not surprising that the void of information on Neil’s departure is being filled with conjecture and speculation.
Is Kenny Shiels still looking for alternative employment?
Off oot afore I get battered!!!
Ulryc
Don’t think Paul Lambert is a starter. He has made it clear a few times in interviews that he would not consider returning to Scotland for a management job.
CultsBhoy-PL will be playing Russian Roulette again with CL qualification,no money spent unless we qualify.Which resulted in the panic buy of Pukki,and the width of a crossbar to an embarassing exit v Karagandy.
Neil Lennon has gone. Today many Celtic fans are in mourning … but I cannot contain my own over-riding emotion; joy.
Lenny is my hero. He’s well shot of this awful, corrupt, disgraceful environment.
http://www.onfieldsofgreen.com/goodbye-and-good-luck-neil/
Best of luck Lenny,Johan and Gary.
Aftonbladet.se has spoken to Henrik and he stated that there is no truth in him going to Celtic.
KTF
When MON left he commented on getting used to life in the slow lane. Will Lenny comment on getting used to life on the hard shoulder?
Step forward Mrs SydneyTim, your time is now
A few theories being thrown about. The Samaras situation, budget for next season.
Could be his head was turned. If he signs for another club pretty quickly then I think that would suggest it.
Anyway, cheers for 4 years Lenny. All the best.
We are Celtic, faithful through and through. Our world didn’t come crashing down when we previously lost important people. We move on, hopefully bigger and better.
Who said that we are certain to win the league next season?
That just doesn’t make any sense to me at all.
It’s a racing certainty that most of our best players will be sold here this summer,more than likely to be replaced with “projects” like Mo Bangura and Amido Balde.
Think NL was the perfekt man for the job, even if he made some mistakes, he was and will ever be a celt, one of us. Sad to see him go, all the best Neil!
Good luck to Neil. He did all the important work we could have hoped for. He turned things around when he took over from Mowbray and has left the team and the club in a good state – better than any when Strachan or O’Neill left. Yes he could have done better in cups, to the fans that would have been great but to the company it was marginal. He took us to the Champions League group stages where many managers have failed, and beyond. He truly learned on the job and has improved year on year and I would imagine he as a delight to the board. I’m sure his next move will be calculated as it will be important.
!!Bada Bing!!
WE beat Karagandy over the 2 legs.
Now chill.