NEIL Lennon has hailed “modern day greats” Scott Brown and James Forrest for their contribution to the success he has enjoyed as Celtic manager since he was first appointed 10 years ago today.
Brown and Forrest are the only members of the current squad who were at the Parkhead club when Lennon replaced Mowbray on a temporary basis on March 25, 2010.
Midfielder and captain Brown and winger Forrest have been involved in all of the European triumphs, league wins and cup victories that Lennon has enjoyed during his two spells in the dugout in the East End.
And the Northern Irishman singled the pair out for special praise as he reflected on his time in charge of Celtic on the 10th anniversary of his appointment as caretaker manager.
“He (Brown) brings great maturity in his role in the team,” he told the official Celtic website. “He’s evolved his game and he’s a top holding-midfield player now.
“Reading the game, covering the ground, breaking up attacks and prompting attacks - his leadership qualities are invaluable here.
“It’s immeasurable to put in the words the contribution that he’s made over the last 12 years and he’s still, at 34, playing as well as ever.
“I think that’s testament to his professionalism and dedication. It’s not easy playing here and it’s certainly not easy being the captain here for the length of time he’s been here because there’s a huge responsibility.
“The club has been so consistent over the past few years, and when you think of the likes of Scott Brown and James Forrest who’ve been there for all of the titles – to have already won eight league titles in a row is just an amazing level of consistency, and under pressure as well.
“They are two modern day greats for the club, and they’ve been ably assisted by other great players as well along the way.”
Lennon failed to win the league title at the end of his first full season in charge of Celtic, but he lifted the Scottish Cup after a win over Motherwell and has enjoyed consistent success ever since.
“I felt we had the nucleus of a very good team,” he said. “It was a young team, with the players we’d brought in at the time and the players we already had, we felt we could go places with the exuberance of the youth, and the quality we had as well to make a prolonged attempt on winning the title back, and that proved to be the case.
“It was still brilliant to win the Scottish Cup in 2011 despite the real disappointment of losing out on the league title. We galvanised ourselves for the final against Motherwell and the support was magnificent as well.
“To win the Scottish Cup was a great way to end the season for us, and then you’re looking to build, and we certainly did that from then on.
“The club had a really good policy of finding young, talented, hungry players to come in and make the club better, and then they could go on and forge their careers elsewhere, but Celtic really gave them a strong platform to do that.”
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