Neil Lennon '˜could have been Everton boss' says Brendan Rodgers

Brendan Rodgers has described Neil Lennon as a 'Premier League' manager. Picture: SNS Group

Lennon played for Celtic for seven years and managed them for four before moving to Bolton in 2014.

He was appointed manager of the Easter Road side last year, and takes them to his old stomping ground tomorrow hoping to end Celtic’s run of 57 domestic matches without defeat.

It's not the first time Rodgers and Lennon have squared off in a match - Lennon's Celtic side faced Swansea and Liverpool while both were managed by Rodgers. Picture: SNS Group

Former Liverpool boss Rodgers thought Lennon - who he described as a ‘brilliant manager’ - would have been perfect as boss of Merseyside rivals Everton at one stage.

Rdogers said: “It is not an easy job to do but to move from playing to becoming a manager and having the four years here and the success he had, was absolutely magnificent.

“I was at Liverpool when he moved on and Everton were supposedly looking for a manager when David Moyes was going to go to Manchester United.

“I felt at that time that a perfect candidate would have been Neil Lennon.

“When you manage Celtic and the expectations here then you can manage any club.

“Without being disrespectful when he went to Bolton, I was a little bit surprised because he is definitely a Premier League manager and has the qualities to manage there.

“It didn’t work out at Bolton but he came up and you can see how he has reinvigorated Hibs.”