Neil Lennon hopes the passage of time will be kind to the perception of Celtic legacy.
The former Parkhead captain and manager insists a disastrous final season in charge should not "overshadow" his achievements at the club.
Lennon is back in management with Cypriot side Omonia Nicosia just over a year since leaving Celtic under a cloud following the collapse of their 10 In A Row bid.
Some fans turned on the club legend and the Parkhead board with angry protests outside Celtic Park as the campaign turned toxic.
But the Irishman, who won 22 trophies on the pitch and in the dugout, insists he doesn't have anything to prove.
“For the first three or four months after Celtic, it took me a bit of an adjustment," Lennon told The Scottish Sun. “I’d gone from a kind of regimented sort of lifestyle to civilian life almost.
"Not having to worry about players, media, board, supporters, social media.
“That took a bit of adjusting to. Then I started thinking, ‘This is alright, you can relax for a bit’ — but then this opportunity came up.
“The way it ended at Celtic was very disappointing. But I think overall we had a hell of a lot of success.
“Do I want to prove something? Not to anybody in Scotland.
"I just want to prove to myself we can still build a good team and play fast, productive football and win trophies.
“I don’t feel that I’ve been written off as a manager. I’m only 50 and I’ve had over ten years at it.
“The final season at Celtic might have overshadowed everything else I’d done at the club because it was so recent.
“But hopefully, further down the line, there will be a recognition, it shouldn’t overshadow what was achieved before. Both as a player and as a manager."
Lennon's stint as Omonia manager started with a draw against Doxa on Saturday, with the 50-year-old denied victory via a stoppage time equaliser.
Omonia were Cypriot champions last year but have slipped into the bottom half of the table this term and it's up to Lennon to turn their fortunes back around.
And he revealed he's had the backing of Dermot Desmond and Peter Lawwell, with the latter in particular urging him to take his chance on the continent.
Lennon added: “I speak to Peter. I’ve had the occasional text from Dermot Desmond.
"They have been very good to me. Peter was positive about this chance and I respect his opinion.
“He’s a personal friend too. He has his finger on the pulse when it comes to European club football.”
