With 214 appearances as a Celtic player across the space of seven years, and a rich track record of success as the club’s manager, it stands to reason that Neil Lennon should be the man to motivate his troops towards new levels of SPL domination.
Under Lennon’s guidance once more, the Bhoys prepare for 2019/20 going for an unprecedented Quadruple Treble. They stand as rightful SPL favourites on Sporting Index, having won all three domestic honours last year to make it a half-century of top-flight trophies.
That, along with the nine-point gap by which Celtic won the title this year, suggests strongly that Lennon is the man to achieve 9 in a row next year, and match the Scottish football record set by Jock Stein’s Celtic in the 60s and 70s.
Boyhood Bhoy Lennon Provides Foil to Rodgers Regime
Though he will feel under immense pressure to match the achievements of Brendan Rodgers, Lennon already appears to have a plan to make this squad his own.
Promising a more attack-minded approach than his predecessor, Lennon is also set to be more ‘hands on’ in training.
This approach worked in his first tenure at Parkhead, with his arrival at the club in 2010 coming at a time when Rangers were threatening to regain their former dominance of the SPL.
The free-spending Gers had won the title in 2009 by a four-point margin. In the year Lennon was appointed, that gap widened to six.
However, with just one point between the sides at the end of the title race in 2010/11, there was ample appetite for another Old Firm power shift.
Nothing to Detract from Existing Legacy
Much can be made of the fact that Rangers played out 2011/12 in the shadow of imminent financial ruin. However, Celtic showed immense spirit under Neil Lennon, having experienced defeats at Hearts and Rangers by early October. Add to those the embarrassing 1-0 home defeat to St Johnstone in August.
Celtic then firmly hit their stride, embarking on a flush run of wins between 6 November and 25 February. After taking just one point from trips to Aberdeen and Rangers, Celtic resumed normal service, winning their next five games to get over the line.
While sceptics will readily point to the absence of a Rangers team in the top-flight as the reason Celtic were unstoppable for the remainder of Lennon’s first tenure at Parkhead, there is much more than meets the eye.
2012/13 also saw Celtic reach the Champions League round of 16 for the first time in five years, and claim a famous group stage victory over Barcelona.
While that remains Celtic’s most memorable European performance of the 2010s, it would be one of many highlights to come as the club proceeded to dominate domestic football in Scotland, culminating in the ‘treble treble’ last year.
Onwards to Nine
Neil Lennon certainly believes he is the man that Celtic needs for nine (and ten) in a row, even if some fans were underwhelmed by his appointment.
One way to lay down a real marker would be to guide the Bhoys to a record early title victory in March next year. To do so, Lennon must aim for a 100% win record past Christmas and hope that Rangers and Aberdeen falter.
This summer’s transfer window will be an early indicator of Celtic’s chances. The team needs reinforcements in several key positions, including backup for Kieran Tierney and a first choice right back to replace the experienced Mikael Lustig. Celtic may also struggle to hold on to top talent like Olivier Ntcham, who has been linked with Porto in previous windows.
With Lennon’s eye for a player, and a plethora of young attacking talent coming through, including Armstrong Okoflex, Mikey Johnston and Karamoko Dembele, we think it shouldn’t be a problem.
