Former Hibernian manager Neil Lennon is poised to make a comeback to football management after a 19-month hiatus. According to reports from the Sun, Lennon is in advanced talks to become the new manager of Rapid Bucharest. Discussions took place last week, and an official announcement is expected following Rapid’s weekend match against their rivals, Steaua Bucharest. Lennon is anticipated to sign a two-year contract with the Romanian club.
This development comes amid speculation that Lennon might return to Easter Road following the recent departure of Hibs manager Nick Montgomery, who was sacked after a heavy 4-0 defeat to Aberdeen. However, Lennon’s imminent move to Bucharest effectively rules him out of the running for the Hibs position.
Rapid Bucharest finished second in the Romanian SuperLiga before the play-off round but have experienced a significant drop in form, failing to win any of their last nine matches. This decline has prompted the club to seek new leadership, leading to Lennon’s potential appointment.
Lennon’s last managerial role was with Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus, where he managed 29 games, securing 11 victories. Despite competitive performances against Manchester United and Real Sociedad in the Europa League, poor results against newly promoted teams in the domestic league led to his dismissal in October 2022.
The upcoming position with Rapid Bucharest will mark Lennon’s sixth permanent managerial role. His managerial career began at Celtic, where he also enjoyed a successful playing career. He later managed Bolton Wanderers before taking charge at Hibernian in 2016. During his two and a half years with Hibs, Lennon managed 123 games with a win percentage of nearly 48%, overseeing the club’s promotion from the Championship and eventually departing in January 2019. He subsequently returned to Celtic, where he navigated the team through the challenges of the Covid pandemic.
Lennon’s move to Rapid Bucharest represents a new chapter in his career, offering him the opportunity to rejuvenate a struggling team and make his mark in Romanian football.
