Phillip Cocu has replaced Frank Lampard at Derby County but should Celtic have hired him instead?
Neil Lennon is undoubtedly a Celtic legend.
Not only did he make over 250 appearances for the club as a player, captaining the Glasgow giants between 2005 and 2007, Lennon has now lifted eight trophies in two spells as Celtic’s manager too.
But that does not mean his return to Parkhead has been universally applauded. Lennon was appointed on a permanent basis by the Scottish Premiership champions at the end of the season, shortly after replacing Brendan Rodgers on an interim basis.
For some, however, Lennon’s return represents a lack of ambition and a failure to think outside the box. Especially when coaches like Phillip Cocu were ready and available.
A man who lead PSV Eindhoven to three Eredivisie titles, turning the likes of Hirving Lozano, Memphis Depay and Gini Wijnaldum into stars while masterminding some of the most exciting counter attacking football in Europe, Cocu is heading to Britain for the first time in his career after being unveiled as Frank Lampard’s successor at Derby County.
But Celtic fans are wondering what might have been. A coach with the class and the track record of Cocu could have taken The Hoops to the next level. Instead, they’ve settled for a ‘safe pair of hands’.
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