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Neil Lennon

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Neil Lennon
Personal information
Full name Neil Francis Lennon
Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Celtic (Coach)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16:29, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

Neil Francis Lennon (born 25 June 1971 in Lurgan, County Armagh) is a former professional footballer from Northern Ireland. He is the former captain of Celtic where he was first-team coach having moved from Wycombe Wanderers on 3 April 2008.[1] Follwoing the appointment of Tony Mowbray as Celtic manager, Lennon's role at the club was changed. From the start of season 2009-10 he will coach the Celtic reserve side. [citation needed]



Career

After joining Manchester City as a trainee in 1989, Lennon played for Crewe and Leicester City, before moving to Celtic, in 2000 where he became a cult hero.[2] Lennon became Celtic captain in 2005.

When his former club Leicester City sacked Craig Levein, Lennon was linked with a return to the Midlands side in a player-manager role. He went on record saying he was flattered but wanted to captain Celtic to the SPL title.[3]

Although he was also linked with a possible move to Crystal Palace in a player/coach role in the summer of 2006,[4] on 23 June 2006, Celtic announced he had signed a new one-year contract. Sunderland manager Roy Keane made an attempt to sign Lennon prior to the closure of the August 2006 transfer window, but his approach for the player was rejected by Celtic. On 25 April 2007, Lennon announced he would be leaving Celtic. He ended his service for the club on 26 May 2007 by captaining the team to victory in the Scottish Cup Final against Dunfermline Athletic. Celtic’s 1-0 win clinched the League and Cup Double.

Lennon was linked with the vacant manager's job at Hibernian in Edinburgh after the resignation of John Collins.[5] However the job was given to Mixu Paatelainen.

Lennon was capped 40 times by Northern Ireland, scoring two goals. He is a former captain of the team.

Lennon decided to retire from international football in August 2002 upon receiving a death threat before a Northern Ireland match against Cyprus. The threats came after his alleged claim that he wanted to play for a team representing a United Ireland.[6] The threat was allegedly made by the Loyalist Volunteer Force, although the organisation later disputed this [7]. The death threat was met with widespread disgust from both sections of the community in Northern Ireland.[8]

Lennon joined Nottingham Forest on a one year deal with an option for a second year on 12 June 2007.[9]

Lennon made his Nottingham Forest debut captaining the side in a 0-0 draw at home to Bournemouth. He missed a week's training with Forest because of family reasons in Scotland and lost his place in the team as a consequence.

Lennon joined Wycombe Wanderers on 31 January 2008[10], leaving on 3 April 2008 to take up a coaching role with Celtic. In September 2008, it was reported that Lennon was the victim of an assault whilst in the West End of Glasgow,[11], his attackers were subsequently charged, found guilty and jailed for 2 years each on 16 January 2009.[12]

Honours

File:Elliott lifs cup.JPG
Lennon (bottom right) enjoying Leicester's League Cup victory on 27 February 2000
Leicester City
Celtic

References

  1. ^ Exclusive: Lenny comes home
  2. ^ "Lennon seals Celtic move". BBC Sport. 2000-12-09. Retrieved 2000-12-09. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help); Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  3. ^ "Crystal Palace open Lennon talks". BBC Sport. 2006-06-20. Retrieved 2006-06-20. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  4. ^ "Easter Road job interests Lennon". BBC Sport. 2007-12-21. Retrieved 2007-12-21. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ ESPN.com Soccernet Scotland: News - Lennon delighted with reception
  6. ^ Who really threatened to kill Neil Lennon?; Making death threats | Sunday Herald, The | Find Articles at BNET.com
  7. ^ BBC NEWS | Programmes | World at One | Driven out by hate
  8. ^ "Lennon signs for the Reds". BBC Sport. 2007-06-12. Retrieved 2007-06-12. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ "Veteran Lennon signs for Wycombe". BBC Sport. 2008-01-31. Retrieved 2008-01-31. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ "Celtic's Lennon hurt in assault". BBC Sport. Retrieved 1 September 2008.
  11. ^ "'Brutal' Lennon attackers jailed". BBC Sport. Retrieved 16 January 2009.

External links

Sporting positions
Preceded by Celtic F.C. captain
2005-2007 		Succeeded by
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