Neil Lennon is convinced Celtic leader Callum McGregor will become the most decorated player in Hoops history – and one day become manager of the club.
The captain has led the Hoops to the Premiership and League Cup this season to take his tally to an incredible 19 major honours – with the Scottish Cup Final to come against Inverness next weekend. A treble would leave McGregor just five trophies behind Bobby Lennox as Celtic’s greatest medal winner and former player and gaffer Lennon reckons the dream total is very much on. Lennon hoovered up 11 honours as a Parkhead player and another 10 as manager.
But he believes McGregor will continue to stockpile awards on the pitch before inevitably going on to becoming a top boss once he’s hung up his boots. Lennon said: “If Celtic beat Inverness in the Scottish Cup final then he’ll have won 20 major honours and I think he’ll go on and set the record for the most decorated player. Celtic are in a period of real dominance at the moment and I can see that lasting for at least a few more years.
“At 29, you’ll see the absolute best of him in the next three or four seasons. He’s at the perfect age, better than he’s ever been physically and he has the experience to back it up now. He’s always in great shape and is hardly ever injured so he’s available to play just about every week. Plus he could continue like this for another five or six years.”
Lennon believes McGregor has got plenty in the tank as a player but he can see signs the midfield playmaker will be made for management. It’s a path he was thrust down as he took charge in 2010, initially as caretaker following Tony Mowbray’s departure, and then as permanent gaffer in two trophy laden spells in the hot seat.
Former club supremo Scott Brown is another who ran the show on the field and his now making his way as a coach at Fleetwood Town. Club legend Lenny reckons the current skipper has all the tools to follow their lead make it on the other side of the white line.
Lennon said: “For me, he has all the attributes to do that job further down the line. He already operates like a coach on the pitch and that’s why he’s the captain. He can be flexible with his approach to games and you only need to tell him something once and he gets it immediately. Tactically, he’s spot on and I do believe that once he stops playing he will be a very, very good coach.”
Lennon is thrilled Celtic are still getting the best out of McGregor as a player though and he’s convinced he’s only just hitting his peak.
The Scotland star was a kid coming through when Lennon was in charge during his first spell but was a major mainstay in the side when he returned to take control following Brendan Rodgers’s swift departure in February 2019. McGregor has evolve from key player to inspirational leader and while the current skipper is a different personality to previous captain Brown, Lennon can still see a natural link between the pair.
The two skippers are chalk and cheese in the way they go about their business. One was bold and brash, who led front from the front and wasn’t afraid to noise up opposition players or fans.
The other is more naturally quiet, one who leads by example with his play and also has a cast iron determined streak to cajole the best out of his teammates. Brown will go down as one of the all time great Celtic captains. But McGregor is fast heading in the same way.
Lennon said: “Callum had a great role model in Broony and the pair of them were as thick as thieves for a long time. Callum’s a player of high intelligence and great discipline and he’s as professional as you can get – he’s a manager’s dream, really.
“Callum was almost groomed for the captaincy. He and Broony played together for a long time and were very successful but he has a totally different personality from his predecessor.
“Broony is more outgoing and more feisty whereas Callum is cold but he reads the game brilliantly and is very good tactically on top of that. He would always be one of the first picks. He’s had a stellar career so far and there’s a real maturity about him – for Scotland as well as Celtic. Steve Clarke is delighted with him and he’s coming into his peak years.”
McGregor on course to be a lifetime Celt – but Lennon has no doubts the schemer could cut it with the very best in the English Premier League. There were a few occasions when he came close to finding out, with the likes of Brendan Rodgers desperate to tempt him down south when he went to Leicester City.
There have been countless other times when EPL outfits have had a nibble but McGregor penned a new long-term deal under Lennon and has always felt right at home at Celtic and the English game’s loss is the Parkhead club’s gain.
The former boss said: “There was a lot of talk at one stage about him signing for Leicester City [after Rodgers left Celtic in 2019] so we were all thrilled when he signed a new contract to stay where he was. I have no doubts whatsoever that he could play in the Premier League and for some of the really big clubs as well but he’s happy at Celtic and everyone should be pleased about that.
“He signed the extension just before we played Lazio in the Europa League and I didn’t have to do too much convincing. I never had one issue or worry with him.”
Celtic honours list
25 – Bobby Lennox
23 – Billy McNeill
22 – Scott Brown
21 – James Forrest
19 – Callum McGregor; Jimmy Johnstone
18 – Bobby Murdoch; Alec McNair; Jimmy McMenem, Nir Bitton
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