Neil Lennon speaks for every Celtic supporter on Seville: ‘Josè broke my heart’

The Celtic Star

·5 March 2025

Neil Lennon speaks for every Celtic supporter on Seville: ‘Josè broke my heart’

Neil Lennon has admitted that Josè Mourinho broke his heart all those years ago in the heat of Seville…

SEVILLE – MAY 21, 203. Dianbobo Balde of Celtic is sent off by referee Lubos Michel during the UEFA Cup Final match between Celtic and FC Porto held on May 21, 2003 at the Estadio Olimpico in Seville, Spain. FC Porto won the match and trophy 3-2 after extra-time. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The former Hoops’ captain and manager was part of the famous Martin O’Neill team that stromed all the way to the UEFA Cup Final of 2003, beating the likes of Liverpool and Blackburn Rovers along the way, as well as Stuttgart and Celta Vigo too.

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A brilliant time to be a Celtic supporter

It was a brilliant time to be a Celtic supporter as Martin O’Neill restored the good name of the club in European competition and set another standard, which since has not been repeated. The Bhoys were a whisker away from bringing home another European trophy for the first time in decades, had it not been for some dubious play acting and copious amounts of time-wasting from Porto that night in Spain.

Chris Sutton in Seville. Photo imago/Colorsport

Neil Lennon, who was a key cog in the machine for his countryman at that point in time, recalls having his heart broken by the Special One, claiming that it was a bitter pill to swallow, despite acknowledging the quality of Mourninho’s managerial career. “Jose is a genius,” he said via Scottish Sun. “He’s one of the best of all time. He broke my heart in Seville. He’s just an incredible manager and a good person as well.”

‘He’s spiky, which I like. A lot of people don’t take to him’

Lennon pointed to the Portuguese Maestro’s resume as a case in point, saying: “Think what he did with Porto and then Inter Milan, what he did with Chelsea, what he did with Real Madrid. He’s spiky, which I like. A lot of people don’t take to him. But his record is incredible. I always remember him finishing second with Manchester United and saying it was one of his best achievements. Everyone dismissed it but if you look at it now, Jose won the Europa League with United and won the League Cup too,” he said.

Henrik Larsson scores for Celtic in Seville. Photo Celtic FC

‘Jose’s a winner. He does it by hook or by crook’

He continued: “He got Spurs to the League Cup final, and they sacked him before it. Jose’s a winner. He does it by hook or by crook. Maybe he’s not at his best now — but I loved him. Mourinho will want it, he’ll want this Europa League, so it’s going to be difficult for Rangers whether he’s Fenerbahce manager or not. Just the fact he’s there adds that X-factor to Fenerbahce.”

inside Palenque, Seville

“He’s got a big couple of games coming up — Fenerbahce and Celtic

The former Celtic boss also added that his old foe Barry Ferguson will have his work cut out facing the might of Mourinho and Brendan Rodgers in the next couple of weeks, but insists it’s a great opportunity nonetheless for the novice coach. “It is an audition for Barry. I understand what he’s going through,” he added. “He’s got a big couple of games coming up — Fenerbahce and Celtic. That’s as good as it gets when you’re Rangers manager, but it’s going to be a tough task.”

Hoops avoiding a re-run

As so many Celtic supporters have never watched a re-run of the UEFA Cup final from 2003 we’ll avoid including the highlights in this article. If you can stomach it head over to YouTube.

Paul Gillespie