NEIL LENNON has been tipped for a return to the dugout in the near future in a role that would see him manage in a FIFTH different country.
The Celtic hero has been out of management since being sacked by Romanian side Rapid Bucharest earlier this year.
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In his career so far he has managed in Scotland, England, Cyprus and Romania.
In between his two spells at Celtic he went down south with Bolton Wanderers then returned to Scotland with Hibs three months after his spell there ended.
After being sacked by the Hoops in 2021, Lennon went a year without a coaching job before taking the leap to manage Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus.
He led them to to Cypriot Cup glory and into Europe but poor league form proved his undoing.
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His time at Rapid Bucharest wasn’t without controversy and he only lasted six games before being sacked.
However, he’s been tipped as a “brilliant” option to be the next manager of Cardiff City.
If the 53-year-old was to eventually take the job with the Welsh giants, it would mean he has managed teams from five different countries.
The Bluebirds have been struggling in the Championship this season and caretaker boss Omer Riza’s suitability for the full-time job is being questioned, with Cardiff still in the relegation places at the moment.
That’s despite high profile names such as Aaron Ramsey, Anwar El Ghazi and Calum Chambers being on their books.
Riza joined Cardiff as part of Erol Bulut’s coaching staff but when he was sacked in September, Riza was place in temporary charge.
Former Celtic midfielder David Turnbull, who was signed under Lennon for the Hoops in 2020, is also at the club.
Joe Ledley is a cult hero in the Welsh capital and he knows Lennon better than most having played under him at Celtic Park from 2010-2014.
And he would LOVE to see his former gaffer take the reigns at the Cardiff City Stadium.
When asked about a potential replacement for Riza should he be passed over for the permanent gig, Ledley said without hesitation: “Neil Lennon. I think he would be brilliant there.
“With his man management skills, and the way he wants his players to fight for the club and fight for the jersey.
“I haven’t seen that there for a long, long time at Cardiff. I know Lenny and the way he can play will be exactly the same as other managers.
“I’d just like to see that fight from the players and that togetherness. I haven’t seen it since probably when (Neil) Warnock was at Cardiff. So I’m going to say Neil Lennon, whether he wants it, I don’t know.
“I think at the moment it’s right for the club to give Omer Riza a bit more time, maybe a few more games. It’s the international break, so the club can have a little bit more time to think about it.”
Speaking to Gambling.com, Ledley explained that recent form has suggested Lennon might not be required and Riza could turn it around.
Owner Vincent Tan sacked Bulut despite handing him a contract extension in the summer and will be wary of spending big to land another manager and could therefore be hoping Riza makes things work.
Ledley said: “I’ve been down there quite a lot this season, especially at the beginning.
“When [Erol] Bulut was there, it just wasn’t happening at all. The performances weren’t good enough, they weren’t creating enough chances. You get found out in the Championship like that and rightly so.
“Then once the manager goes five or six games without a win, you’re always going to be under pressure. Vincent Tan knows that and he won’t let that go under the carpet, so they made the right decision for me.
“Now it’s all up in the air with who’s going to be the next manager. At the moment there’s a few names flying around, but I think it’s down to the chairman to come out and decide whether they’re going to stick with Omer Riza, or if they’re going to go and invest some money in another manager. It’s a bit frustrating for the fans at the moment.
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“To their credit the last four or five games have been a lot better, there’s been a lot more improvement in the team and they’re creating more chances. So time will tell.
“It’s a difficult league, but they need to get back to winning ways to stay away from that relegation zone.”
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