A FIRST decade in management has consisted of considerably more highs than lows for Neil Lennon.
Trophies have been stockpiled during two spells as Celtic manager. There has been success on the European front too – most notably the famous Champions League victory over Barcelona – while he helped restore Hibernian to the Premiership after three years in the second tier. There is plenty for the Northern Irishman to be satisfied about.
It is not those highlights, though, but a troubled time at Bolton Wanderers that Lennon credits as the most significant period in his development over the past 10 years.
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In trying to keep the bankrupt Championship club afloat, he learned more about what being a manager truly means in those 18 months then he has during times of success and silverware at Celtic and Hibs.
Having gone through that difficult spell and emerged unscathed from the other side, the 48 year-old believes it has lent him a sense of perspective that continues to guide him now during his second stint at Celtic.
“There was nothing I could do at Bolton really,” he said. “We kept them up the first year which was good because when we took over they were bottom of the league.
“Then the money just stopped. We weren’t aware of it but we had to cut the wage bill by 50%. Then they went into administration. Things were getting sold in front of you – you’d sit at your desk one day and the next thing the removal van comes and takes it.
“You tried to help out with players wages and things like that. They were a decent bunch of boys and they didn’t deserve that. Bolton never really recovered.
“They’ve still got problems now so I look back on that with a bit of fondness. But it was tough and a really good learning curve.
“The difficult times give you perspective. And you realise when you’re in a position like the one I’m in now that it doesn’t last very long and, secondly it doesn’t happen very often. So you sit back and reflect and think ‘this is good’.”
Lennon enters 2020 with the challenge of staving off Rangers to claim a ninth successive league title for Celtic looming large after the winter break.
But, despite that pressure, he revealed that he feels more relaxed than ever. And he wishes his 38 year-old self - who succeeded Tony Mowbray back in the spring of 2010 - could have realised then not to take everything so seriously.
“What would I tell myself back then? To calm down! You can’t do everything yourself, son. And to take a step back and smell the roses.
“I’ve had some tough times in management and that’s been a good experience for me even in a bad way.
“In the good times you can reflect and enjoy them more and push yourself even harder. I’m in a great place. I don’t think you suffer the losses so badly or take them so personally now – you can be more philosophical about it.
“And the same with the wins. You don’t get too carried away, you enjoy the win and then look forward to the next game.
“Ten years of management - it’s a nice milestone. I think I’ve done more than 500 games and I wouldn’t have envisaged that when I first took over.”
The thought of another 10 years in the game fills him with enthusiasm rather than anxiety. For the time being, though, there are domestic and European challenges to address.
“If I do (another decade) that would be brilliant,” he added. “It’s been an incredible year for me personally, and I’m very grateful for the opportunity.
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“I’m enjoying what I’m doing, I’ve got a great backroom team and a great group of players. I’ve got to be happy.
“We’ve had a lot of success and I’m hoping for more of the same this year. Getting the League Cup was a nice landmark for myself so I’ve got the three of them now. And once you get a taste of it you want more.
“Europe was a big thing as well. I was trying to make inroads there so I’m looking forward to the Copenhagen games and seeing if we can negotiate that. So the second half of the season will be as exciting as the first.”
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