The story of this season’s Scottish Cup has already been coloured by feelings of profound sadness and a sense of grief.
On the back of Dunfermline’s victory over Falkirk in the semi-finals at Hampden, Neil Lennon spoke candidly about the loss of his father, Gerry, who had passed away a few months earlier.
‘I was thinking about my father after the penalty shootout,’ said the Pars boss. ‘We lost him in December. He would have loved this, so that was for him.
‘He was the biggest influence in my life, both professionally and personally. He’d have loved this.
‘He’d be outside with a cigarette, his fedora and a walking stick telling everyone: “I told you”.’
It was back in December that the world of football also mourned the loss of John Robertson, the Nottingham Forest and Scotland icon.
Martin O’Neill with assistant John Robertson after winning the league at Parkhead in 2002
Robertson was a man whose talents elevated him to the very top of the game, winning two European Cups with Forest in 1979 and 1980.
He was also a hugely significant figure in the lives of both Lennon and Martin O’Neill, the two managers who will contest tomorrow’s final at Hampden.
Robertson served as assistant manager and right-hand man to O’Neill during his first stint as Celtic manager back at the turn of the millennium.
O’Neill and Robertson were team-mates at Forest under the legendary Brian Clough and were close friends for the best part of 50 years.
They also played a key role in O’Neill signing Lennon for Leicester City back in 1996, turning up at his flat in Crewe and refusing to leave until he had agreed to sign a contract.
It is fair to say that Robertson will be smiling down on both men when they lock horns at the national stadium.
‘Robbo will be in our thoughts on Saturday and Lenny will tell you that he did a lot for his career,’ said O’Neill. ‘Robbo would be having a fag and saying: “Isn’t this extraordinary?”
O’Neill and Robertson teamed up to great effect at Nottingham Forest in the 1970s
‘They are naming a stand after him at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. It’s fantastic, although I wish they had done it before he died.’
Robertson’s was a life lived to the fullest. A larger-than-life character, O’Neill opened up on what their life was like in Nottingham back in the 70s.
‘I met John when he was just a boy, he was a year younger than me,’ continued the Celtic boss.
‘We used to go to this boat club along the River Trent. In the early 1970s, one of them called The Union had a disco-type thing on a Thursday.
‘It closed at 11pm but Robbo was the King of the Union with every single girl. His record was fantastic and mine was appalling!
‘I had the big hair and I thought: “I am it”. Robbo wasn’t good looking but he was the King of the Union.
‘Even at 18, he was revered by senior players in the dressing room. He had two great feet, he could ping passes all over the pitch, he couldn’t head it and he could hardly run!
‘If you had said to me that, by the end of the decade, he would be the scourge of European full-backs from the left-wing position, you’d have got long odds on it.
‘He was a super player, a footballing genius.’
For the first time in their managerial careers, O’Neill will pit his wits against Lennon in Mount Florida.
Dunfermline will be huge underdogs but Lennon has already spoken about his team showing no fear as they look to cause a huge upset.
In their time together at Leicester City and Celtic, O’Neill and Lennon formed an unbreakable bond and shared many iconic moments together.
But personal sentiment will be put aside as they both look to lift the Scottish Cup as the curtain falls on another incredible season in Scottish football.
O’Neill will take on his former Leicester and Celtic midfield enforcer in the Scottish Cup final
‘Hopefully this is not a mutual admiration society, but Neil has been brilliant,’ said O’Neill.
‘I am up against a man I would have considered an ally at one time, but now my nemesis for a while [this afternoon].
‘He had a big, big influence over my career and I am sure he might say the same the other way around as well.
‘Times were difficult at Leicester early on and he pulled me out of the quagmire. But I have since pulled him out of a number of quagmires.
‘Lennon has been terrific. What a job he has done at Dunfermline. Seriously, he’s got them up and running just as I expected him to.
‘He’s a proper leader and I always saw that in him as a player. He had leadership, a never-say-die attitude and was a very good passer.
‘Neil was a great player and did fantastic for me at Leicester and Celtic. His record as a player and manager here is up there with anyone’s.
‘Dunfermline have knocked out three Premiership sides to get to the final, which is really testament to his ability as a manager.’
Lennon is congratulated by Robertson and O’Neill after making his Celtic debut against Dundee
O’Neill has confirmed that he expects Daizen Maeda to leave Celtic this summer
O’Neill also hinted that the cup final is likely to be Daizen Maeda’s last game in a Celtic jersey.
The Japanese international had strong interest on the table last summer and it is likely that more offers will arrive in the coming weeks.
‘If I was around, I wouldn’t stop Daizen from going,’ said O’Neill. He deserves it. He has paid his dues at this football club — massively.
‘Daizen’s last seven weeks have been absolutely Larssonesque. He has been the galvanising drive for us. He has been amazing.
‘Daizen started to score the goals and the boy grabbed the whole thing. Henrik did his seven years and left, although he had told me he was going.
‘Daizen has said that if he could get a chance to play in the Premier League, he would want to.
‘I certainly wouldn’t stop him. There will be a queue of clubs wanting him down there now after this recent spell.
‘Kelechi Iheanacho has also become a cult hero. If you can do that over four games, then brilliant. Jimmy Johnstone needed eight years!’
