Brendan Rodgers resigned in February 2019, a day before a crucial league game at Tynecastle and four days before a Scottish Cup quarterfinal at Easter Road. Celtic had around 24 hours’ notice that he could be moving, that was crucial in planning how to cope with two visits to Edinburgh that could have seen us out of a cup for the first time in almost three years and facing a crisis in the league.
I know there are a lot of raw memories from last season, but Neil Lennon stepped up big time then, and in the months that followed Rodgers’ departure, taking the next available five domestic trophies.
Neil wanted the job permanently, Celtic only wanted him on an interim basis, so they agreed that he would take the job until the end of the season on condition he was considered for the permanent role.
I spoke to ‘sources close to Celtic’ when those events were unfolding. It is fair to say that in late February 2019, few at Celtic expected Neil Lennon to get the gig come the end of the season. Having appointed footballing and commercial success in Rodgers, they hoped to be able to snag an equally qualified candidate.
What became evident over the three months that followed, is that Rodgers was an exception to the rule – he came because he was an actual Celtic fan, he moved on because he was also a football man, and that’s what 99% of the games’ heroes do, folks. There would be no box office manager this time.
Appetite for another over-achieving young European, like Ronny, was low. The spectre of the most intense person to walk the earth (from Cork) lurked, as ever. There were candidates who took small English clubs for a brief moment into the sun that is the Premier League, but none had managed a club of our size, with our challenges and expectation to win.
Unlike the deliberations in 2016, when Rodgers was appointed, no one felt hopeful at the direction of travel the recruitment process was going. No one at Celtic would ever say, “We ended up with Neil”, but it’s how I viewed it.
Despite how Eddie Howe is viewed in the rear view mirror, 99% of us were delighted at the prospect of him taking over in the summer, I wrote, “the best English manager in the game” at the time. When we return to the market after Howe’s rejection, it was roulette time. There was no indication Ange Postecoglou would be more successful than Ronny Deila or Neil Lennon, but as in February 2019, a second ‘Rodgers-type’ appointment was not going to happen.
Five months in, I cannot believe how well Ange has done. We are on a path I have faith in, recruiting talented players who excite and are within our budget. The crucial difference between Ange and Pedro Caixinha, who before coming to Glasgow took his club to the CONCACAF Champions League Final, is hard to spot.
They were both roulette wheel appointments, sometimes the ball lands on your number, more often it doesn’t. On the positive side, you get to spin the wheel, maybe there’s a Pep 2008 waiting for you, but that transition from Rodgers to Lennon, seven consecutive trophies to five consecutive trophies, was one for the ages. Replacing an entire management team midseason is a business interruption even an Ulster medical testing lab cannot whitewash.
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Just heard the news about Bertie Auld and felt compelled to mark his passing.
When he left Celtic for Birmingham I was really upset but on his return I was ecstatic. We really had someone special and a real Celtic man- and so it proved.
Too many stories about Bertie but for future generations he was the man who led the singing of The Celtic Song as the teams waited in the corridor to climb the steps on to the pitch in Lisbon. Part of Celtic folklore.
God bless you Bertie and RIP. 🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
Truly gutted rest in peace wee 10.30
so shocked to hear about Bertie , a total gentleman and legend , I always wanted to play No. 10 just like him when I was a young bhoy man many years ago.
R.I.P.
The wee man sings the Panmure song
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p053dxlw
I’m just a bit too young to remember Bertie in the hoops. He was my dad’s favourite ever Celt, partly because they looked quite similar, wee guys from Glasgow with slicked back hair.
Behind the bar in Bairds, just a down to earth man who just happened to be a European Champion.
The LL blazer never seemingly off his back.
Rest in Peace Bertie Auld.
Self inflicted love bites,
He was one of those guys you hope will live forever, a genuine Celtic legend, a sad day
RIP Berie
https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/spfl/scottish-premiership/bertie-auld-passes-away-celtic-22164361
https://celtsarehere.com/the-celtic-family-mourn-the-loss-of-one-of-its-favourite-sons-god-bless-bertie/
RIP Bertie Auld
The Maryhill Magyar
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Bertie was always at the centre of things, happy to spend time talking about the club & recounting stories of when he & his team-mates were the Kings of Europe & one of the best teams in the world.
Bertie always loved being a Celt & the Celtic supporters loved him in return 💚
https://www.celticfc.com/news/2021/november/14/celtic-legend-bertie-auld-passes-away/
Matt McGlone (@MattMcGlone9) Tweeted:
Shocked & saddened at wee Bertie’s passing. As a kid I delivered the Evening Citizen and Saturday’s had a colour poster. Bertie was one of the the 1st up on my wall. As an adult we shared great laughs. He had time for everyone & nothing was ever too much.A real Celtic Legend 💚🙏 https://t.co/FxY8M5i4WQ https://twitter.com/MattMcGlone9/status/1459937203606466563?s=20
Jeanette Findlay (@JeanFind) Tweeted:
one of the security people came to call us in for the meeting Bertie told them to get it sorted and give him his season ticket back. A Celtic man to the very core and the very end. Bertie Auld RIP https://twitter.com/JeanFind/status/1459939052925472770?s=20
QUADROPHENIAN on 14TH NOVEMBER 2021 10:53 AM
I know some see postings about THEMS as heresy, but as the ancient war general Sun Tzu wrote:
_____________
It is generally acknowledged in Chinese military circles that Sun Tzu was a bit of a tit.
God bless Bertie 💚🍀🙏
STV (SNP) news, devoted a full 15 seconds to acknowledge that,
Bertie Auld had passed on. hh ✌
RIP Bertie a true Celtic legend
RIP Bertie – Such sad news. He will never be forgotten along with his fellow Lisbon Lions.
RIP Bertie. Funny guy and brilliant footballer. Loved Bertie. 🙏
“We beat them in the tunnel and we beat them on the park ‘an aw.”
God bless you Bertie. RIP
Bertie
The best Celtic story teller…….ever
RIP wee man …xxxx
A sad day for the Celtic family.
RIP Bertie
RIP Bertie, thanks for the memories 💚
We lose another true Celtic legend.
A sad day.
Thoughts with his family and friends at this sad time.
Bin voyage Bertie.
Rest in peace.
YNWA.💚🍀.
We’ve now got the best 7 – a – side team in Heaven:
Simpson, Gemmell, Murdoch, McNeill, Johnstone, Chalmers and Auld.
🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀🍀
Never had the chance to appreciate wee Bertie as a player. My dad, like so many other Celtic supporters, would say he was the heart and soul of the team.
Even when his playing career was over, he was still the heart and soul of the club.
what a player, what a man.
RIP Bertie Auld.
Some of Berties goals
Bertie Auld. One of the greatest players to wear the jersey and one of the finest I have had the privilege to watch.
He played for that jersey; he was a supporter who lived the dream and how he revelled in it.
Bertie, may you rest in peace.
Legend doesn’t begin to describe you. The one and only Bertie Auld.
Thank you.
Some of berties goals
https://youtu.be/3jQaz3vosx8
HH
Thanks Bertie ,only 3 caps for Scotland unbelievable.
A Celtic legend
I was privileged to see Celtic in the 60s/70s .Bertie brought a smile to your face every game
RIP
Tam Cowan on Off the Ball yesterday told a story. He and Bertie were doing an event and Tam said to him “we need something new for this, not the stories that everyone has heard before”
Bertie looked at him and said “one of the Lisbon Lions was a homosexual”
Tam thought this is the biggest story I will ever hear.
He said “come on Bertie, you need to tell me who”
“I won’t tell the name” said Bertie.
“You’ve got to tell”
“No” said Bertie
Tam tried a third time and Bertie leaned over and kissed him and burst out laughing.
Bertie scored the goal which let me see Celtic winning a cup for the first time against St. Johnstone.
May Bertie rest in peace. The most charismatic Celtic player ever.
Loved Bertie – he was the catalyst on the park that gave the Lions the swagger & that touch of arrogance that all great teams have, ……plus he could ‘put his foot in’ when need be.
I am sad & tearful – goodnight Bertie – you will NEVER be forgotten, nor, walk alone. RIP
I could greet…
Rest in peace Bertie.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHFWrElkt6o
RIP Bertie
God bless Bertie, RIP
Wee guy got a signed message from him on his 5th birthday, took the time to wind up both us for the spelling telling us the wee guy wouldn’t forget it 😇
You really,the Lions only played twin in midfield.Bertie and Bobby.When you think of it,it was remarkable.Neither blessed with great pace,yet they controlled nearly every game.Sheer skill,endeavour,and wonderful positioning sense.Apart from running the full game in Lisbon,against a 5 man Milan midfield,their greatest night was the Leeds semi final.Giles, Bremner,Hunter,hailed as the hardest,and best,were outplayed,outhought,and outrun by Bertie and Bobby.For good measure Bertie “Sorted ” each of the hardmen out.He could handle himself.
Choked tonight.My wee mate,Jim,(Charley and the Buoys,sent me a couple of videos,at Bertie’s for his last birthday.Still belting out the Celtic Song,although I’ll.
True legend.Hope he gets the Funeral he deserves.
https://twitter.com/EuroScoutt/status/1459939929564360705?t=HLacqSqbK-MG11R65xk26g&s=08
Lovely tribute Celtic, in tears here
Bhoys.
Another living link with the greatest era of Celtic football club has been broken .
And so have our hearts . RIP Bertie .