Lennon Cup Final Reunion For What Could Be O'neill Swansong

Once installed astatine Celtic successful 2000, O'Neill's vow connected his first time was to "try to bring immoderate occurrence backmost to nan shot club", which had vanished much than 20 points down Rangers nan erstwhile season.

Part of his masterplan, of course, progressive Lennon. The problem was that Leicester did not want to sell.

O'Neill first tried to tempt him northbound successful nan summer. He did not get until December aft handing successful a transportation request, pinch Celtic having to portion pinch astir £6m to get nan woody complete nan line.

The likes of Henrik Larsson, Chris Sutton, Alan Thompson, Paul Lambert and Lubo Moravcik were already there. With Lennon added to nan mix, nan treble was won and nan inclination was group for a millennium successful which Celtic person been Scottish champions 19 times.

Under O'Neill, Lennon won 3 of his 5 titles arsenic a subordinate and played successful nan 2003 Uefa Cup final.

He past steered Celtic to nan convention title a further 5 times arsenic manager.

A relationship, and a friendship, forged astatine Leicester helped Celtic carve retired nan astir successful spell successful nan club's home history. With Lennon successful nary uncertainty astir nan value of nan upcoming conflict connected 23 May.

"It's emotional," he said. "It could perchance beryllium Martin's past crippled arsenic a head and for maine and him to spell caput to head; I've ne'er done it before. It's a hellhole of a story."

The communicative that started 30 years agone successful a dingy level from which Lennon joked "you had to swipe your feet connected nan measurement out" will person its adjacent singular section astatine Hampden Park successful a Scottish Cup final.

Dunfermline past won nan celebrated aged trophy successful 1968, 3 years earlier Lennon was born.

The Pars' past last was successful 2007 - against Celtic. The Glasgow broadside won 1-0 successful Lennon's past crippled for nan nine arsenic a player.

O'Neill would nary uncertainty motion up for nan aforesaid result correct now.

The agelong relationship will beryllium suspended for nan day and nan method areas and touchline will beryllium watched conscionable arsenic eagerly arsenic nan action connected Hampden's hallowed turf.