Neil Lennon has admitted that he could never have turned down a second stint as Celtic boss.
A year ago the Irishman was starting to pick up some media work after leaving Hibs wondering what his next move would be.
Like former team-mates Chris Sutton and John Hartson there would be no shortage of media offers but after nine years in management the next move looked uncertain.
Despite the circumstances, managing Bolton hadn’t enhanced his reputation but on February 23 as Claude Puel watched Leicester City losing 4-1 at home to Crystal Palace things were about to change.
Within a matter of days Lennon was leading Celtic to Tynecastle in the most testing of circumstances with no one predicting how successful the next 12 months would be for Lennon and the hoops.
Speaking to The Sun the Irishman recalled:
It was the Celtic job. If you have been asked to take it, you take it. Trust yourself, go with it. I think when an opportunity like that comes along you don’t knock it back, you take it. If you fail, you fail. If you succeed, brilliant.
I didn’t have much time to think about it anyway. I really don’t know what else I’d be doing. Sitting in the stand? Sitting at home watching it on TV? No, it has been very fulfilling so far.
It was a big undertaking, the timing of it. Going in on your own as well, it was a big task. The pressure was enormous. It was a real character build for me as well, but the players were great.
To win the Scottish Cup final in the manner they did trumped everything really. It was just a fantastic way to do it. This year has been really enjoyable.
With a 12 point lead at the top of the SPFL table the next 12 weeks could be as memorable as anything that Lennon has achieved in his career.