CELTIC tonight confirmed that Neil Lennon will take over from Brendan Rodgers as manager of the Parkhead club until the end of the season.
Lennon, who parted company with Hibernian by mutual consent last month, will be aided by John Kennedy, who will be assistant manager, and Damien Duff, who will be first team coach.
The Northern Irishman will be in charge of the Scottish champions for the Ladbrokes Premiership game against Hearts at Tynecastle tomorrow night.
"I am absolutely delighted to be named manager of Celtic again," said Lennon. "This is a club which has been such a huge part of my life already and it is an honour to be asked to return.
"I have given everything to Celtic as a player and manager already in my career and I am ready to do the same again. I will be doing all I can to continue the great work that has gone on in recent years.
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"I am delighted that John Kennedy and Damien Duff have agreed to be part of my team. John will allow us to have important continuity and Damien will bring real knowledge and experience to the first team squad.
“I am returning to one of the biggest and best clubs in world football and I can’t wait to get started.”
Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell said: “We are pleased to be able to announce Neil’s return to Celtic.
"In bringing Neil back to the club until the end of the season, we have appointed a man who knows what it means to be Celtic manager and someone who knows how to win.
“We know he has the commitment and desire needed to face the challenges ahead.
"We are delighted to also promote John Kennedy to assistant manager and bring Damien Duff into our first-team management group. This will bring vital continuity and allow us to build on Brendan’s legacy.
“The club is in a great position on and off the field, and with Neil, John and Damien leading the first team, I am sure we can continue our success.”
READ MORE: If Celtic are in the Premier League, Rodgers stays, says Levein
Lennon joined Celtic from Leicester City in December 2000 when Martin O’Neill was manager.
Over the next seven years, he would make a total of 304 appearances for his boyhood heroes and establish himself as a Celtic legend.
He won five league titles, four Scottish Cups and two League Cups and was part of the treble-winning side of 2000/01.
He was an integral part of the squad that reached the UEFA Cup final in 2003, and he took over the captain’s armband in 2005.
After finishing his playing career with spells with Nottingham Forest and Wycombe Wanderers, Lennon returned to Celtic, initially as a member of the first-team coaching staff and then as reserve tam manager.
Following Tony Mowbray’s departure as manager in March 2010, Lennon stepped in as caretaker manager and was then appointed on a full-time basis.
Over the next four years he won three league titles – the first three in the current seven-in-a-row run – as well as two Scottish Cups.
In Europe, he guided the club to the last 16 of the Champions League in the 2012/13 season, recording a famous 2-1 victory over Barcelona in the group stages, the night after the club celebrated its 125th anniversary.
He helped Hibernian win promotion back to the Premiership as Championship champions in 2017 and guided them to fourth in the league last season.
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