Since taking his first step into a dug-out with lowly Grantham Town back in 1987, Martin O’Neill has managed more footballers than he likely remembers.
No individual has been entwined with his own journey from that point to this quite like Neil Lennon.
There may be a touch of awkwardness about them belatedly going head-to-head as rival managers in what’s likely to be O’Neill’s last match in charge as they contest the Scottish Cup final next month, but it feels almost pre-ordained.
Born 50 miles and 19 years apart in Northern Ireland, the pair first worked together when O’Neill signed the midfielder for Leicester from Crewe in February 1996, believing he could drive the club to the top flight and major honours.
For both men, it was a decision which would change their fortunes in the game.
After a sticky start to life at Filbert Street, O’Neill ushered in the glory days. The Foxes won promotion via the play-offs, two League Cups and repeatedly punched above their weight in the league.
O’Neill and Lennon embrace after Celtic draw with Barcelona at the Nou Camp in 2004
O’Neill first linked up with Lennon when he signed the midfielder for Leicester City in 1996
The two enjoy a joke after Celtic’s Scottish Cup semi-final win over St Mirren at the weekend
As a player at Nottingham Forest under Brian Clough, O’Neill had always found praise hard to come by. Lennon never was — and never has been — left wondering in that regard.
‘He’s had a major impact for me down the years. Really, a major impact,’ O’Neill recalled. ‘His input and contribution at Leicester City alone was immense, absolutely immense.
‘We got him at a time when I was in at the football club and couldn’t win a game to save my life. So, Lennon comes. He could actually have gone to Coventry, who were in the Premier League at the time under Ron Atkinson. But he comes to us, for less money, and that was a big, big boost for us. In the play-off final against Crystal Palace, he was incredible.
‘Sometimes I go and have a look and he was genuinely incredible. Considering you think, as he’s a little stout fellow, he might not be able to run. But he could cover the distances and he was great.
‘Then we went up and he played a major part in us winning the trophies and staying in the top ten for four years.
‘So, I then take him to Celtic. The first game he plays is against Dundee and I remember there was a report in one of the papers about a little rotund fella who couldn’t play. But he’s had some impact on the club since then as a player and as a manager.’
Lennon could play, all right. O’Neill also admired his winning mentality and the way he thought deeply about the game. A career in management seemed a natural choice for his former captain once the playing days were over.
With Lennon thrown in at the deep end at Celtic when Tony Mowbray was sacked, the veteran acted as a sounding board.
‘Yes, we kept in touch,’ he revealed. ‘But if I was giving out any advice, it would have been “just be you”. Be yourself, that’s what I would have told him.
‘You don’t copy people. You can learn from people, but you don’t copy anyone.
‘When I went into management, obviously I had a genius of a manager in Brian Clough. But you don’t try and imitate him. Don’t do it, just be you.
‘With Lennon, I don’t even think I would have had to give him that advice. Of course, when you’re looking around when results aren’t going so great then maybe you’d listen to a friendly voice or something like that. I don’t actually remember calling him too often. But there was no need to, I don’t think.’
Lennon was ready. He won three titles and two Scottish Cups in his first stint at Parkhead before taking Hibs back to the Premiership and into Europe.
He returned to Celtic in 2019 following Brendan Rodgers’ sharp exit, winning two more titles, two Scottish Cups and a League Cup.
O’Neill feels it’s remarkable that such a vast trophy haul is overlooked by those who seemingly want to hold Lennon personally responsible for the unprecedented events of his final season in charge.
‘Look at his career. It’s incredible,’ he stated. ‘He took a lot of criticism and I don’t think it was really deserved.
‘Celtic were trying to go for ten-in-a-row and there was Covid. From a distance, I felt Covid suited Rangers rather than Celtic at the time, but that’s beside the point.
‘When everything settles down, Lenny’s record both as a player and as a manager is incredible.’
Lennon did well in a short spell with Omonia Nicosia by winning the Cypriot Cup but took a wrong turn by accepting a gig with Rapid Bucharest which proved to be short-lived.
A return to the front line with Championship side Dunfermline a year ago raised eyebrows, but it’s envious glances the Fifers are now getting as they push for promotion and the Scottish Cup on his watch.
Given his former captain’s CV, O’Neill admits he’s surprised that no side from a higher division came calling.
‘The short answer to that is yes,’ he said. ‘That’s not to say he’s not enjoying it at Dunfermline. I think he gets on really well with the chairman and the owner of the football club. And that says something for him.
‘Having knocked out sides like Hibs and Aberdeen before knocking out Falkirk. It’s brilliant.
‘He just loves football and he loves managing. More than I did.’
Amid a surfeit of brilliant stories throughout the Scottish game this season, a first and presumably last meeting between the pair as managers on May 23 may just top the lot.
O’Neill will hope to still be in contention for a double that day with which to sign off in style.
For his part, Lennon will believe his youthful side may also have a play-off final to look forward to at that stage.
Come what may, he’ll have a chance to etch his name alongside Jock Stein and George Farm as cup-winning Dunfermline managers.
‘I don’t want him to win it, let me put it that way,’ O’Neill smiled. ‘I want to beat him.
‘I don’t care whether he’s my brother. I want to win. Listen, if I don’t allow my granddaughter to win at Ludo then I’m not going to let Neil Lennon win a cup final.’
