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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Forgive the errors in my post.Watery eyes.
RIP Bertie, aka 10.30.
Here he is at his best, speaking about signing for Celtic had me in tears, God bless you Bertie.
https://youtu.be/9ZkRGMr_KL4
Brian
Bertie Auld song.
https://youtu.be/3jQaz3vosx8
HH
Bertie Auld song. Here.
https://youtu.be/3pACAckKJGU.
HH
Bertie, like so many greats of his era, left football still needing to make a living and was involved in the pub business – a sort of ‘rite of passage’ in those days. Contrast today’s millionaire players – the majority with only a fraction of the skill & honours bestowed on Bertie, who are set up for life when they sign a four-year contract with clubs who will win nothing of note.
Big Billy was The King,nobody better IMO,Wee Bertie was Mr Celtic, if that makes sense, an amazing man,who would always leave you with a smile on your face.Nobody has told our story better.
Sad news about Bertie Auld.
A great footballer, a great Celt and a great human being.
Struggling to find words big enough for Bertie. He had time for every Celtic fan.
He scored the only goal In my first ever cup final win as a Celtic supporter. It was the year we won 3 cups in 5 months at Hampden. We beat St Johnstone 1-0 in 1969.
He was there every week in the Jock Stein lounge in the time I went there, having the time of day for every guest and visitor to our club. Treating the rich, famous and every other fan alike.
A great man and a great ambassador. Loved by our fans and respected by our opponents. For me his finest hour was actually when we beat Leeds in 70. He stood astride a Leeds team, which was hailed as the best by all in Europe, with his foot firmly on their throats as we bossed them on that famous night at hampden. Bertie never let a team renowned for their gamesmanship and physicality as much as their undoubted skills display their darker side that night.
Bertie Auld was a great man and a truly great Celt, on and off the Park.
Rip, Bertie. A real Celtic great. I had the pleasure of his company a few years ago. We talked about the 1965 Cup Final. A great day he said.
Very sad news about Bertie.
Rest in Peace Celtic Legend.
FANADPATRIOT on 14TH NOVEMBER 2021 7:39 PM
Thanks Bertie ,only 3 caps for Scotland
——-
Only one of the reasons that I have never had any time for the Scottish National Team, we were discriminated against in the selection process & abused when on the field. Those among us who do are either very young, have wilfully short-memories, or, ulterior motives, or, a combination thereof. Seen a young guy,on a Celtic-themed video-cast the other day, discussing our club’s finances as published by Swiss Rambler. He presented the ‘show’ dressed in a Scotland shirt……I was dumbfounded!!!!
Sad to see any Lion pass away.
Ar dheis lámh Dhé go raibh anam Bertie Auld.
Rest in Peace Bertie, a gentleman, a Celtic great, one of us. I saw him play many times , it was a privilege to meet him on a number of occasions. A sad day for all God bless him and his family.
Hail Hail.
Wee ten thirty, I had the privilege of being in his company at the 1st Vegas where on the last day he entertained us at the bar.
There are legends, Celtic legends at that, and then there was Bertie.
https://twitter.com/rxgic67_/status/1459946527158374407?s=24
Another brilliant Bertie story
TT- There are legends, Celtic legends at that, and then there was Bertie.
Perfectly said HH
JHB,
I know only too well how the SFA have treated us over the years (and how they are doing their best to get the we arra ra peepil lot to start follow following the National team again) but I still want Scotland to win. At the present moment, the bulk of the squad is either Celtic players, ex-Celts or Celtic supporters. I can’t see that changing much if Steve Clarke remains the manager (and I realise he will be pressured into playing the likes of Gilmour and Patterson).
As I was growing up, my Dad would wax lyrical about his favourite players, like Malky MacDonald. but late in life he couldn’t see past wee Bertie and Bobby Murdoch, as the best he had seen. Personally, I used to think Paddy Crerand and Charlie Gallagher were the best (and Charlie is still my favourite) but now I agree with my Dad. They formed the best midfield duo we are ever likely to see don the Hoops.
jHB@8.53
One of the reasons I would never step into Hampden. .
The Lions were dishonoured by these people.
3 caps for Bertie was a disgrace,but Bertie was and always will be remembered as a Celt
God bless the Auld family tonight ,you will never know how much we loved Bertie .one in a million RIP
https://twitter.com/stvnews/status/1459965693022117890?s=24
Please Celtic, get Bernard Ponsonby in as Press/PR guy,,nobody better
A young 20 something Emeraldbee and his mate are struggling up the hill to the SFA coaching course in Largs, early 70’s, lumbered with sports bags and cases of stuff for the week. A lovely deep red Jaguar passes then slows and stops. “Going to the coaching course lads?” asks Bertie. “Hop in.”
The mark of the man.
And …… I learned as much from him during that fortnight as I did the coaches!
Oh and there was the famous remark he made to me during a session; “Whoever said you could play centre half? Try midfield.” And he was right.
FANADPATRIOT @ 9:10
—
I endorse all you say – “dishonoured” is the right word. It was as blatant as it was unbelievable.
!!BADA BING!! on 14TH NOVEMBER 2021 9:14 PM
https://twitter.com/stvnews/status/1459965693022117890?s=24
Please Celtic, get Bernard Ponsonby in as Press/PR guy,,nobody better
—————–
Correct Bada ,done Trinity high proud .
🙋♂️ Hi Fellow Celtic Fans! 😢
I have just seen the very sad news re Bertie Auld which I first read from Phil’s obit. Although I grew up with the Lion’s, and his name is seared forever in my brain (… Chalmers, AULD and Lennox! 😊), I think I was just too young to truly appreciate just how good the Lisbon Lions and Bertie AULD in particular were…
Perhaps the most fitting comment I can give here on Bertie AULD is that he has GROWN in my Celtic 🍀Consciousness over the years, not waned like so many long-lost memories… I am not ashamed to admit that this 63-years-old lifelong Celtic Supporter has tears in his eyes as he types this, and telling this to my wife has brought her to tears as well! 😢😢😢. What is very clear here is that Bertie Auld is truly LOVED By the Celtic Support, and wider than this I am sure.
My very astute (Kyrgyz) wife, with no Celtic awareness before coming to the UK, has said that this beautiful man has clearly done his God-given job on earth and will forever be remembered by Celtic Fans! 👍🍀😊❤️
My thoughts and condolences are with Bertie Auld’s family, and also with the worldwide Celtic Family who are all surely as deeply saddened by this news of losing one of our own as I am! 😢
When the future history of our great Club is written, many players will be written about, but very few will be truly worthy as a player, fan and decent human being of the epitaph:
BERTIE AULD – LEGEND!
Yours in Celtic,
TB&F. 😢🍀
Thank you Bertie.
Mitrovic incredible winner in last minute in Portugal.
Ronaldo kneels in despair. What drama!
Portugal have never been beaten by Serbia. Ronaldo and Co have 4 minutes to save it.
Looks like Sweden in the playoffs, as they lose goal to Spain in last 2 minutes.
Mitrovic the goat when Marshall saved his penalty. Now a National hero going to Qatar.
Memories are strange, especially on a night like this. The best single pass I ever saw Bertie make was in a friendly at Hampden (for some reason that escapes me) in the late 60s. We were playing the newest greatest team in the world, Manchester City, coached by the most recent greatest coach in the world, a guy called Malcom Allison.
Anyway Bertie gets the ball in the centre circle, looks up and with the outside of his left peg strokes the ball behind their right back, all the time curving out the way, and big Yogi canters by the (of course world class) right back and crosses the ball into the box for wee Bobby Lennox to stroke the ball into the net. Sheer, sheer class.
VOGUEPUNTER on 14TH NOVEMBER 2021 9:24 PM
!!BADA BING!! on 14TH NOVEMBER 2021 9:14 PM
http://celticunderground.net/the-celtic-underground-mixing-politics-football-with-bernard/
FOURSTONECOPPI
Who’s that with Bernie ? :O)
Goodbye Bertie RIP, you’ve left this auld Tim in Oz with
many happy memories both on and off the football park.
H H Mick
Daft wee story about the wider effects Bertie had.
September weekend, late 70s, on last ferry on the Friday night from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay. Utterly Baltic, ferry packed, standing room only, literally. Guy standing at the rail as we glided into the terminal at Rothesay, clad only in a suit and shaking/trembling with the cold. “It’s a bit 10.30 the night” he says. Guffaws all around from the majority on the ferry.
PCS Bobby and Bertie were referred to as McKellar and Watt, the Link men.
McKellarandwattformeatiness CSC.
Played at park head when strachan was the manager. Won a competition and Bertie was the manager of our side. He was good with us all. My old da loved him. God bless Bertie auld.
Emerald Bee 9.41
I was at that game, 1969 I think. Can’t quite recall, but I think it was a draw.
HH
R.I.P and God Bless You Bertie Auld.
Hero and legend
Bada Bing!
You came on here the other day and announced that the Queen was dead. Given that this has still not been confirmed by Buck Palace I assumed, like your Celtic team exclusives, that you had as usual got it wrong.
(that’s bound to hurt! 🙂 )
However, I see that Boris is assuring the country that he has seen the Queen recently and she will bounce back. So, I’d like to apologise to you. She’s obviously as cold as a block of ice by now and this will probably be confirmed in the morning now that the annual Remembrance Day Poppy Porn Fest has been concluded.
I was sure I heard Prince Charles humming that old Lion King song ” I Just Can’t Wait To Be King” when he was laying his wreath!