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He braved sectarian death threats, battled depression, won bucket-loads of trophies and slayed the mighty Barcelona but Neil Lennon arrived at Bolton Wanderers yesterday still looking for challenges.
Colourful doesn’t quite sum up the Northern Irishman’s footballing journey – which began nearly 30 years ago on the playing fields of County Armagh.
A terrier-like midfielder in his playing days, that competitive streak clearly went with him as he went into the dugout at Celtic, where he was regarded as somewhat of a firebrand early in his managerial career.
Touchline spats and suspensions were the order of the day as he first took charge of the Scottish giants but those who worked closely with him in Glasgow claim he calmed down considerably as he realised he was worth more to his team in the technical area than the stands.
Under intense pressure Lennon developed into a young manager with a knack of developing young players and an eye for spotting talent.
In snapping up bargains such as Victor Wanayama, Fraser Forster, Joe Ledley, Gary Hooper and Kris Commons he was in the rare position of operating at a profit in the transfer market – something that no doubt would have increased his appeal to Eddie Davies in Wanderers’ current situation.
However winning everything there was to win in a Rangers-less SPL was never going to be enough.
It represented a gamble to sever ties with Parkhead back in May but a move to England was necessary if he was to be taken seriously for the biggest roles in the game.
That an offer from the Premier League never materialised for Lennon may have come as a surprise, certainly to those he left behind.
“He’s a top manager and has all the credentials to be a boss at that level,” argued Scotland international Charlie Mulgrew in a recent interview. “His motivational skills, his tactics and the way he manages players is second to none.”
Although Lennon was in the frame for jobs at Cardiff, Huddersfield, Leeds and then Fulham – whose indecision appears to have cost them in this instance – the 43-year-old was one of a number of high profile names to throw their hat into the ring to succeed Dougie Freedman.
The calibre of applicant surprised even Phil Gartside, who alongside owner Davies and vice-chairman Brett Warbuton signed off on Lennon’s rolling one-year contract yesterday afternoon.
While news of Lennon’s interest circulated throughout the week, the club’s announcement shortly after 2pm yesterday sent shockwaves around the English game, make no mistake about it.
Despite his reputation, the challenge that Lennon sought on his exit from Celtic in the summer will be starring him straight in the face when he looks at the league table.
The five-point gap to safety is by no means insurmountable but the Northern Irishman has little wiggle room in his budget to change things this season, let alone before the next transfer window in January.
Counting in his favour is the fact he alternated a 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 diamond formation for much of his time at Celtic; should he choose to do the same at Bolton, his ideals should not clash significantly with those of his predecessor.
Wanderers fans crave a more attacking approach and while Lennon showed his team could do the “ugly side” – most notably their incredible 2-1 snatch and grab against Barcelona nearly two years ago in the Champions League – they were rarely described as negative.
He won 70 per cent of his games in charge of Celtic, an eye-watering statistic, but one that perhaps says a lot about the level of competition in Scotland.
For all his league titles he starts life in England with a clean sheet.
There will inevitably be interest for a few weeks from the national media but talk will soon switch to an away trip to Charlton, or that tricky pre-Christmas visit to Millwall, and it is there Lennon will earn his spurs.
Lennon spoke thoughtfully and eloquently in a recent interview about his battles against depression through his career and has shown in his punditry work with the BBC that he is a learned student of the game.
The challenge at Bolton Wanderers is unlikely to faze him, and the majority of fans have already pledged their full support.
First up will be Birmingham, not Barcelona, but a new chapter in Neil Lennon’s considerable back story starts here.
Source
Colourful doesn’t quite sum up the Northern Irishman’s footballing journey – which began nearly 30 years ago on the playing fields of County Armagh.
A terrier-like midfielder in his playing days, that competitive streak clearly went with him as he went into the dugout at Celtic, where he was regarded as somewhat of a firebrand early in his managerial career.
Touchline spats and suspensions were the order of the day as he first took charge of the Scottish giants but those who worked closely with him in Glasgow claim he calmed down considerably as he realised he was worth more to his team in the technical area than the stands.
Under intense pressure Lennon developed into a young manager with a knack of developing young players and an eye for spotting talent.
In snapping up bargains such as Victor Wanayama, Fraser Forster, Joe Ledley, Gary Hooper and Kris Commons he was in the rare position of operating at a profit in the transfer market – something that no doubt would have increased his appeal to Eddie Davies in Wanderers’ current situation.
However winning everything there was to win in a Rangers-less SPL was never going to be enough.
It represented a gamble to sever ties with Parkhead back in May but a move to England was necessary if he was to be taken seriously for the biggest roles in the game.
That an offer from the Premier League never materialised for Lennon may have come as a surprise, certainly to those he left behind.
“He’s a top manager and has all the credentials to be a boss at that level,” argued Scotland international Charlie Mulgrew in a recent interview. “His motivational skills, his tactics and the way he manages players is second to none.”
Although Lennon was in the frame for jobs at Cardiff, Huddersfield, Leeds and then Fulham – whose indecision appears to have cost them in this instance – the 43-year-old was one of a number of high profile names to throw their hat into the ring to succeed Dougie Freedman.
The calibre of applicant surprised even Phil Gartside, who alongside owner Davies and vice-chairman Brett Warbuton signed off on Lennon’s rolling one-year contract yesterday afternoon.
While news of Lennon’s interest circulated throughout the week, the club’s announcement shortly after 2pm yesterday sent shockwaves around the English game, make no mistake about it.
Despite his reputation, the challenge that Lennon sought on his exit from Celtic in the summer will be starring him straight in the face when he looks at the league table.
The five-point gap to safety is by no means insurmountable but the Northern Irishman has little wiggle room in his budget to change things this season, let alone before the next transfer window in January.
Counting in his favour is the fact he alternated a 4-2-3-1 and 4-4-2 diamond formation for much of his time at Celtic; should he choose to do the same at Bolton, his ideals should not clash significantly with those of his predecessor.
Wanderers fans crave a more attacking approach and while Lennon showed his team could do the “ugly side” – most notably their incredible 2-1 snatch and grab against Barcelona nearly two years ago in the Champions League – they were rarely described as negative.
He won 70 per cent of his games in charge of Celtic, an eye-watering statistic, but one that perhaps says a lot about the level of competition in Scotland.
For all his league titles he starts life in England with a clean sheet.
There will inevitably be interest for a few weeks from the national media but talk will soon switch to an away trip to Charlton, or that tricky pre-Christmas visit to Millwall, and it is there Lennon will earn his spurs.
Lennon spoke thoughtfully and eloquently in a recent interview about his battles against depression through his career and has shown in his punditry work with the BBC that he is a learned student of the game.
The challenge at Bolton Wanderers is unlikely to faze him, and the majority of fans have already pledged their full support.
First up will be Birmingham, not Barcelona, but a new chapter in Neil Lennon’s considerable back story starts here.
Source