Since taking his first step right into a dug-out with lowly Grantham City again in 1987, Martin O’Neill has managed extra footballers than he possible remembers.
No particular person has been entwined along with his personal journey from that time to this fairly like Neil Lennon.
There could also be a contact of awkwardness about them belatedly going head-to-head as rival managers in what’s more likely to be O’Neill’s final match in cost as they contest the Scottish Cup remaining subsequent month, however it feels virtually pre-ordained.
Born 50 miles and 19 years aside in Northern Eire, the pair first labored collectively when O’Neill signed the midfielder for Leicester from Crewe in February 1996, believing he may drive the membership to the highest flight and main honours.
For each males, it was a call which might change their fortunes within the sport.
After a sticky begin to life at Filbert Avenue, O’Neill ushered within the glory days. The Foxes gained promotion by way of the play-offs, two League Cups and repeatedly punched above their weight within the league.
O’Neill and Lennon embrace after Celtic draw with Barcelona on the Nou Camp in 2004
As a participant at Nottingham Forest underneath Brian Clough, O’Neill had all the time discovered reward exhausting to return by. Lennon by no means was — and by no means has been — left questioning in that regard.
‘He’s had a significant impression for me down the years. Actually, a significant impression,’ O’Neill recalled. ‘His enter and contribution at Leicester Metropolis alone was immense, completely immense.
‘We bought him at a time once I was in on the soccer membership and couldn’t win a sport to save lots of my life. So, Lennon comes. He may even have gone to Coventry, who have been within the Premier League on the time underneath Ron Atkinson. However he involves us, for much less cash, and that was an enormous, large increase for us. Within the play-off remaining in opposition to Crystal Palace, he was unimaginable.
‘Generally I am going and take a look and he was genuinely unimaginable. Contemplating you assume, as he’s slightly stout fellow, he won’t be capable of run. However he may cowl the distances and he was nice.
‘Then we went up and he performed a significant half in us successful the trophies and staying within the high ten for 4 years.
‘So, I then take him to Celtic. The primary sport he performs is in opposition to Dundee and I bear in mind there was a report in one of many papers about slightly rotund fella who couldn’t play. However he’s had some impression on the membership since then as a participant and as a supervisor.’
Lennon may play, all proper. O’Neill additionally admired his successful mentality and the way in which he thought deeply concerning the sport. A profession in administration appeared a pure alternative for his former captain as soon as the enjoying days have been over.
With Lennon thrown in on the deep finish at Celtic when Tony Mowbray was sacked, the veteran acted as a sounding board.
‘Sure, we stored in contact,’ he revealed. ‘But when I used to be giving out any recommendation, it will have been “simply be you”. Be your self, that’s what I might have informed him.
‘You don’t copy individuals. You may study from individuals, however you don’t copy anybody.
‘Once I went into administration, clearly I had a genius of a supervisor in Brian Clough. However you don’t attempt to imitate him. Don’t do it, simply be you.
O’Neill first linked up with Lennon when he signed the midfielder for Leicester Metropolis in 1996
‘With Lennon, I don’t even assume I might have needed to give him that recommendation. In fact, if you’re wanting round when outcomes aren’t going so nice then possibly you’d take heed to a pleasant voice or one thing like that. I don’t really bear in mind calling him too typically. However there was no have to, I don’t assume.’
Lennon was prepared. He gained three titles and two Scottish Cups in his first stint at Parkhead earlier than taking Hibs again to the Premiership and into Europe.
He returned to Celtic in 2019 following Brendan Rodgers’ sharp exit, successful two extra titles, two Scottish Cups and a League Cup.
O’Neill feels it’s exceptional that such an enormous trophy haul is neglected by those that seemingly wish to maintain Lennon personally answerable for the unprecedented occasions of his remaining season in cost.
‘Take a look at his profession. It’s unimaginable,’ he said. ‘He took numerous criticism and I don’t assume it was actually deserved.
‘Celtic have been making an attempt to go for ten-in-a-row and there was Covid. From a distance, I felt Covid suited Rangers slightly than Celtic on the time, however that’s irrelevant.
‘When all the pieces settles down, Lenny’s file each as a participant and as a supervisor is unimaginable.’
Lennon did effectively in a brief spell with Omonia Nicosia by successful the Cypriot Cup however took a incorrect flip by accepting a gig with Fast Bucharest which proved to be short-lived.
A return to the entrance line with Championship facet Dunfermline a yr in the past raised eyebrows, however it’s envious glances the Fifers at the moment are getting as they push for promotion and the Scottish Cup on his watch.
Given his former captain’s CV, O’Neill admits he’s stunned that no facet from the next division got here calling.
‘The brief reply to that’s sure,’ he stated. ‘That’s to not say he’s not having fun with it at Dunfermline. I believe he will get on rather well with the chairman and the proprietor of the soccer membership. And that claims one thing for him.
The 2 take pleasure in a joke after Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren on the weekend
‘Having knocked out sides like Hibs and Aberdeen earlier than knocking out Falkirk. It’s sensible.
‘He simply loves soccer and he loves managing. Greater than I did.’
Amid a surfeit of sensible tales all through the Scottish sport this season, a primary and presumably final assembly between the pair as managers on Could 23 could high the lot.
O’Neill will hope to nonetheless be in competition for a double that day with which to log off in model.
For his half, Lennon will imagine his youthful facet can also have a play-off remaining to look ahead to at that stage.
Come what might, he’ll have an opportunity to etch his identify alongside Jock Stein and George Farm as cup-winning Dunfermline managers.
‘I don’t need him to win it, let me put it that approach,’ O’Neill smiled. ‘I wish to beat him.
‘I don’t care whether or not he’s my brother. I wish to win. Pay attention, if I don’t enable my granddaughter to win at Ludo then I’m not going to let Neil Lennon win a cup remaining.’
