Neil Lennon quits: Highs and lows at Celtic Park

Neil Lennon the dugout against Barcelona. Picture: SNSNeil Lennon the dugout against Barcelona. Picture: SNS
Neil Lennon the dugout against Barcelona. Picture: SNS
As Neil Lennon confirms his departure from Celtic, we take a look back at his highs and lows with the Hoops

As a player, he won five league titles, four Scottish Cups, and two league cups, picking up three player of the month awards. As a manager, he won three consecutive league titles and two Scottish Cups. He picked up ten manager of the month awards, and three manager of the year awards.

But it hasn’t all been plain sailing for Neil Lennon at Celtic.

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Appointed caretaker-manager following Tony Mowbray’s exit, he was made manager on a permanent basis in June 2010, enjoying a successful stint in the Celtic Park hotseat.

June 2010: Neil Lennon is confirmed as Celtic boss following a period as caretaker-manager, and succeeds Tony Mowbray.

March 2011: Along with the then Rangers assistant Ally McCoist, Lennon is charged with misconduct by the SFA following a clash at the end of an Old Firm Scottish Cup match at Celtic Park.

May 2011: Lennon is assaulted by Hearts fan John Wilson during a match at Tynecastle. Wilson was later handed an eight-month prison sentence, but found not guilty of a sectarian attack

May 2011: Lennon lifts his first piece of silverware as Celtic beat Motherwell 3-0 in the Scottish Cup final.

March 2012: Lennon is sent to the stand during an Old Firm match at Ibrox, and claims he was warned not to watch the second half from the directors’ box. Celtic lost the match 3-2.

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April 2012: Lennon adds to his honours as manager, clinching his first league title with a 6-0 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park.

November 2012: A famous European night at Celtic Park as 18-year-old striker Tony Watt scores the winner as Celtic beat Barcelona 2-1 in the group stages.

August 2013: Celtic recover from a 2-0 first leg defeat to beat Shakhter Karagandy 3-0 in Glasgow and 3-2 on aggregate to make the Champions League group stages.

September 2013: Less than a year after stunning the Catalan giants in Glasgow, Celtic - paired with Barcelona in the group stages again - are humbled 6-1 at the Nou Camp, with Neymar netting a hat-trick.

December 2013: Celtic travel to Tynecastle in the fourth round of the Scottish Cup, putting seven goals, including a hat-trick from Kris Commons, past Hearts without reply.

May 2014: Lennon lifts his third league title trophy in a row as manager. Celtic’s 5-1 victory at Firhill over Partick Thistle two months previously had wrapped up the Scottish Premiership title.