Skip to main content

Neil Lennon quits as Celtic boss after dismal campaign Glasgow (AFP) – Neil Lennon resigned as Celtic manager on Wednesday with the Scottish Premiership club 18 points behind bitter rivals Rangers in their bid to win a historic 10th consecutive league title. The Northern Irishman took charge for a second spell in February 2019 and led the club to two league titles, two Scottish Cups and a League Cup. But he has been under pressure all season as problems mounted on and off the pitch, with Hoops’ fans calling for his head as their dream died. Celtic flopped badly in Europe and defeat to lowly Ross County on Sunday left Steven Gerrard’s Rangers just seven points away from landing the club’s first title for a decade. “Celtic Football Club today announced that Neil Lennon has resigned from his position as football manager with immediate effect,” said a club statement. “Neil has served the club with distinction as both player and manager, delivering numerous successes, most recently completing the domestic treble in December.” Lennon, 49, said in the statement he had worked hard but had been unable to turn the club’s fortunes around. “We have experienced a difficult season due to so many factors and, of course, it is very frustrating and disappointing that we have not been able to hit the same heights as we did previously,” he added. Assistant manager John Kennedy will take interim charge of the team until a permanent successor is appointed. The Celtic hierarchy, led by chief executive Peter Lawwell, who is standing down at the end of the season, stood by their manager long after realistic hope of catching Rangers was gone. But Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Ross County, who started the game bottom of the table, proved the final straw. – Trophy haul – Lennon, who won 10 league titles with Celtic as a player and manager, stepped in two years ago initially on a temporary basis when fellow Northern Irishman Brendan Rodgers left to take charge of Premier League side Leicester. He saw Celtic over the line in the league as Rangers faltered in Gerrard’s first season in charge at Ibrox and won the Scottish Cup to complete a third consecutive treble of domestic trophies. Lawwell offered Lennon the job permanently in the dressing room after the Scottish Cup final in a move that was fiercely criticised by fan groups. Celtic completed another clean sweep in the 2019/20 season, with Lennon’s side crowned champions under a points formula after the campaign was curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic. It meant they had matched the feats of Celtic’s greatest-ever side, who won nine consecutive titles starting in the mid-60s, and the big-spending Rangers team that dominated from the late 1980s. In December, victory on penalties over Hearts completed a fourth consecutive treble in the delayed 2019/20 Scottish Cup final and Lennon became the first man to win the Scottish domestic treble as a player and manager. But by then the wheels had already come off Celtic’s season with a string of disappointing results in Europe and Rangers building a commanding lead in the league. A 1-0 victory for Gerrard’s men in the second Old Firm derby of the season on January 2 opened up a 19-point lead. Worse was to come for Celtic as Lennon’s squad immediately jetted out from defeat at Ibrox for an ill-judged mid-season training camp in Dubai. Pictures of Lennon and captain Scott Brown drinking beer poolside enraged supporters and when defender Christopher Jullien tested positive for coronavirus on Celtic’s return to Glasgow, 13 first-team players plus Lennon and Kennedy were forced to self-isolate. A severely depleted squad lost further ground and Rangers’ march to the title became a formality. Gerrard wished Lennon well, saying he took “no personal satisfaction” from his struggles. Former Celtic striker John Hartson said Lennon could be proud of his achievements at the club. “I’m not surprised he has resigned but feel it’s the best outcome for Celtic,” he tweeted. “The club now need to move quickly and get a new manager and his staff in for the challenges ahead.”


Glasgow (AFP) – Neil Lennon resigned as Celtic manager on Wednesday with the Scottish Premiership club 18 points behind bitter rivals Rangers in their bid to win a historic 10th consecutive league title.

The Northern Irishman took charge for a second spell in February 2019 and led the club to two league titles, two Scottish Cups and a League Cup.

But he has been under pressure all season as problems mounted on and off the pitch, with Hoops’ fans calling for his head as their dream died.

Celtic flopped badly in Europe and defeat to lowly Ross County on Sunday left Steven Gerrard’s Rangers just seven points away from landing the club’s first title for a decade.

“Celtic Football Club today announced that Neil Lennon has resigned from his position as football manager with immediate effect,” said a club statement.

“Neil has served the club with distinction as both player and manager, delivering numerous successes, most recently completing the domestic treble in December.”

Lennon, 49, said in the statement he had worked hard but had been unable to turn the club’s fortunes around.

“We have experienced a difficult season due to so many factors and, of course, it is very frustrating and disappointing that we have not been able to hit the same heights as we did previously,” he added.

Assistant manager John Kennedy will take interim charge of the team until a permanent successor is appointed.

The Celtic hierarchy, led by chief executive Peter Lawwell, who is standing down at the end of the season, stood by their manager long after realistic hope of catching Rangers was gone.

But Sunday’s 1-0 defeat to Ross County, who started the game bottom of the table, proved the final straw.

– Trophy haul –

Lennon, who won 10 league titles with Celtic as a player and manager, stepped in two years ago initially on a temporary basis when fellow Northern Irishman Brendan Rodgers left to take charge of Premier League side Leicester.

He saw Celtic over the line in the league as Rangers faltered in Gerrard’s first season in charge at Ibrox and won the Scottish Cup to complete a third consecutive treble of domestic trophies.

Lawwell offered Lennon the job permanently in the dressing room after the Scottish Cup final in a move that was fiercely criticised by fan groups.

Celtic completed another clean sweep in the 2019/20 season, with Lennon’s side crowned champions under a points formula after the campaign was curtailed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It meant they had matched the feats of Celtic’s greatest-ever side, who won nine consecutive titles starting in the mid-60s, and the big-spending Rangers team that dominated from the late 1980s.

In December, victory on penalties over Hearts completed a fourth consecutive treble in the delayed 2019/20 Scottish Cup final and Lennon became the first man to win the Scottish domestic treble as a player and manager.

But by then the wheels had already come off Celtic’s season with a string of disappointing results in Europe and Rangers building a commanding lead in the league.

A 1-0 victory for Gerrard’s men in the second Old Firm derby of the season on January 2 opened up a 19-point lead.

Worse was to come for Celtic as Lennon’s squad immediately jetted out from defeat at Ibrox for an ill-judged mid-season training camp in Dubai.

Pictures of Lennon and captain Scott Brown drinking beer poolside enraged supporters and when defender Christopher Jullien tested positive for coronavirus on Celtic’s return to Glasgow, 13 first-team players plus Lennon and Kennedy were forced to self-isolate.

A severely depleted squad lost further ground and Rangers’ march to the title became a formality.

Gerrard wished Lennon well, saying he took “no personal satisfaction” from his struggles.

Former Celtic striker John Hartson said Lennon could be proud of his achievements at the club.

“I’m not surprised he has resigned but feel it’s the best outcome for Celtic,” he tweeted. “The club now need to move quickly and get a new manager and his staff in for the challenges ahead.”



from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/2NVjYP4
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Xavi under no illusions ahead of fairytale on Barcelona return Barcelona (AFP) – Xavi Hernandez said he is prepared for the “biggest challenge of his career” before leaving Qatar for Spain on Saturday, as Barcelona’s legendary former midfielder returns home to take over as coach. Xavi’s appointment was confirmed by Barca in the early hours of Saturday morning and the 41-year-old will be presented to fans at Camp Nou on Monday. “I’m very happy as you can imagine, it’s the biggest challenge of my career,” Xavi told Spanish journalists at Doha airport. “I’m going home and I am very happy.” Xavi faces a huge challenge, with Barcelona adrift of La Liga’s top four, struggling to make the knock-out stages of the Champions League and grappling with debts of more than a billion euros. “I have also experienced bad situations,” Xavi said. “It’s not the best moment in the history of the club but I want to explain what my idea is and to work hard, to make a team. Obviously the first thing is to talk to the players to see how they are.” Xavi left Camp Nou to play for Qatari club Al Sadd in 2015, after making 767 appearances for Barcelona, with eight La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues among his 25 trophies. “It’s time to come home. Welcome, Xavi,” Barca tweeted in the early hours of Saturday morning, as Spain slept.  “It wasn’t goodbye, it was see you later,” it wrote, along with a video montage of the player’s departure in 2015. Barcelona said in a statement they had reached an agreement with Xavi to become first-team coach for the rest of the season and two more seasons, replacing the sacked Ronald Koeman. “It is expected that Xavi Hernandez will arrive in Barcelona this weekend and that on Monday 8, November his presentation as new FC Barcelona first team coach will take place in an event open to the public at Camp Nou,” it said. Nicknamed the “Maquina” (the Machine), Xavi is widely considered one of the club’s greatest players and there is huge excitement about his potential as a coach after his influence on the iconic Barca team managed by Pep Guardiola. His passing style was seen as the embodiment of Guardiola’s “tiki-taka” team that won the treble in 2009. “One of the greatest midfield maestros of all time, he helped redefine the art with his creative mind, pinpoint passing and sublime ability to read the game,” Barca said in their statement, heralding the return of “an absolute legend”. Al Sadd, which Xavi had coached since 2019, hours earlier said they had reached an agreement with Barca and posted photos on social media of the Spaniard saying goodbye to the players and staff. – ‘The dream’ – Barcelona’s attempt to appoint Xavi as Koeman’s successor had been held up on Friday over his Al Sadd release clause, with Xavi and Barca considering splitting the payment to complete the deal. Al Sadd said Barca had agreed to pay the clause in Xavi’s contract, which is reportedly set at around five million euros ($5.8 million), but Barcelona did not give any details of the deal in their statement. Spanish sports daily Marca headlined the club hero’s return and estimated the cost to Barca of sacking recent managers Ernesto Valverde, Quique Setien and Koeman at 32 million euros. Xavi had made no secret of his desire to return to Barcelona, which he joined through the club’s La Masia academy at the age of 11. “My main objective, when I can do it, is Barca,” Xavi told Marca last year. “It’s my home, that’s the dream.” Barcelona sat ninth in La Liga on Saturday morning, with concerns growing they might not qualify for next season’s Champions League. The club are also in dire financial straits, having posted debts of 1.35 billion euros. They could not afford to renew Lionel Messi’s contract in the summer, and the Argentine left for Paris Saint-Germain. Xavi will also be charged with improving the team’s style of play, which was a key criticism during the tenure of Koeman, another former Barca player. Xavi’s flight is due to touch down as Barca take on Celta Vigo in La Liga in Juan Barjuan’s last game as caretaker coach before he hands over to the man the fans are pinning their hopes on to turn the club around.

Barcelona (AFP) – Xavi Hernandez said he is prepared for the “biggest challenge of his career” before leaving Qatar for Spain on Saturday, as Barcelona’s legendary former midfielder returns home to take over as coach. Xavi’s appointment was confirmed by Barca in the early hours of Saturday morning and the 41-year-old will be presented to fans at Camp Nou on Monday. “I’m very happy as you can imagine, it’s the biggest challenge of my career,” Xavi told Spanish journalists at Doha airport. “I’m going home and I am very happy.” Xavi faces a huge challenge, with Barcelona adrift of La Liga’s top four, struggling to make the knock-out stages of the Champions League and grappling with debts of more than a billion euros. “I have also experienced bad situations,” Xavi said. “It’s not the best moment in the history of the club but I want to explain what my idea is and to work hard, to make a team. Obviously the first thing is to talk to the players to see how they are.” Xavi left...
Post a Comment
Read more

Bayern down Mainz to go six points clear in the Bundesliga Berlin (AFP) – Defending champions Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to six points on Saturday after coming from behind to seal a 2-1 home win against Mainz. Second-half goals by Kingsley Coman and 18-year-old Jamal Musiala sealed the victory behind closed doors at Munich’s Allianz Arena after Mainz had taken a shock lead. Bayern remain firmly on course to win the German league for the tenth straight season after stretching their lead at the top of the table as second-placed Dortmund were held 1-1 at Bochum. 

Berlin (AFP) – Defending champions Bayern Munich extended their lead at the top of the Bundesliga to six points on Saturday after coming from behind to seal a 2-1 home win against Mainz. Second-half goals by Kingsley Coman and 18-year-old Jamal Musiala sealed the victory behind closed doors at Munich’s Allianz Arena after Mainz had taken a shock lead. Bayern remain firmly on course to win the German league for the tenth straight season after stretching their lead at the top of the table as second-placed Dortmund were held 1-1 at Bochum.  from World Soccer Talk https://ift.tt/3lVLPNa
Post a Comment
Read more

Rangers brush aside title rivals Hearts Glasgow (AFP) – Alfredo Morelos and Joe Aribo fired Rangers to a 2-0 win at Hearts on Sunday as the Scottish Premiership leaders extended their strong start under new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Van Bronckhorst has won four successive league games since replacing Steven Gerrard after his predecessor’s move to Aston Villa. Morelos and Aribo scored in the early stages at Tynecastle, giving Rangers six consecutive league victories encompassing the end of Gerrard’s reign. Hearts had Josh Ginnelly sent off late on as they squandered a chance to close the gap on the champions. Rangers are 12 points clear of third placed Hearts and seven ahead of second placed Celtic, who host Motherwell later on Sunday. Van Bronckhorst made six changes to the Rangers side that began Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Lyon in the Europa League. Liam Boyce had a great chance to open the scoring for Hearts in the third minute when he ran on to John Souttar’s clipped ball over the top, but the Northern Ireland striker saw his lob tipped over by Allan McGregor. It was Rangers who scored with their first chance of the match after nine minutes when Ryan Kent’s cross reached Fashion Sakala and the Zambian cut the ball back to Morelos, who fired home from six yards out. Sakala shot just wide from close range moments later before Morelos headed wide from James Tavernier’s corner. Rangers’ second goal came in the 13th minute when Aribo ran on to a brilliant long diagonal from Connor Goldson and fired an angled low shot beyond the exposed Craig Gordon. Gary Mackay-Steven saw his angled shot pushed behind by McGregor early in the second half. Rangers had a let-off in the 53rd minute when Calvin Bassey knocked a Ginnelly cross off the underside of his own crossbar. Rangers remained a threat, however, and Scott Arfield and Sakala were both denied by saves from Gordon. Boyce fired over from close range after being set up by Mackay-Steven before Stephen Kingsley cracked a free kick off the bar from 30 yards out. In the 80th minute, Ginnelly was sent off after being shown a second yellow card for squaring up to Borna Barisic.

Glasgow (AFP) – Alfredo Morelos and Joe Aribo fired Rangers to a 2-0 win at Hearts on Sunday as the Scottish Premiership leaders extended their strong start under new boss Giovanni van Bronckhorst. Van Bronckhorst has won four successive league games since replacing Steven Gerrard after his predecessor’s move to Aston Villa. Morelos and Aribo scored in the early stages at Tynecastle, giving Rangers six consecutive league victories encompassing the end of Gerrard’s reign. Hearts had Josh Ginnelly sent off late on as they squandered a chance to close the gap on the champions. Rangers are 12 points clear of third placed Hearts and seven ahead of second placed Celtic, who host Motherwell later on Sunday. Van Bronckhorst made six changes to the Rangers side that began Thursday’s 1-1 draw at Lyon in the Europa League. Liam Boyce had a great chance to open the scoring for Hearts in the third minute when he ran on to John Souttar’s clipped ball over the top, but the Northern Ireland stri...
Post a Comment
Read more