Neil Lennon

"I wasn't low – I was angry, I was disappointed, I was questioning myself – because it wasn't acceptable, not for the club, not for the supporters but more importantly, not for me… And I just thought to myself: 'If this is the best you can do with this group of players, then you might have to let someone else come in and pick it up… when we were 3-0 down, I thought: 'Do I hand in my resignation after the game if it goes to four or five?'…


It was October 15, 2011, and half time at Rugby Park, where Celtic trailed 3-0 to Kilmarnock. Only months into the season, and Neil Lennon's side were adrift of the Scottish Premier League summit. It looked like a long, hard season lay ahead. Forty-five minutes and a defiant half-time team talk later and Celtic emerged with a spirited point after a battling 3-3 draw. It was a remarkable result that would eventually kick-start one of the most amazing transformations in the history of the SPL.


At one stage 15 points behind the leaders, Celtic would finish the season as champions. Lennon had won his first title as Hoops boss. the Irishman had proved the doubters wrong and just as importantly conquered his own fears about his ability to do the job to the standards the club and their passionate fans demanded. But it hadn't been easy. The burden of expectation had been a heavy one, the road to Paradise had been full of twists and turns...