Hi coach, welcome to Cyprus! Neil Lennon enjoys his ‘Brendan Rodgers/Clyde Tunnel’ moment

Neil Lennon has experienced his ‘Brendan Rodgers Clyde Tunnel’ moment in Cyprus. 

Two months into the job of managing Omonio Nicosia the Irishman seems very settled and happy although he still feels the need to blame everyone else for his failings last season at Celtic. 

Glasgow to Nicosia is quite a culture change with fans of all clubs apparently welcoming Lennon to their island. 

In one of his famous tall stories Brendan Rodgers told the media of how he feared the worst when a guy in a blue top approached him in his car as traffic stopped in the Clyde Tunnel. Fortunately the ‘Rangers’ fan only wanted to thank the former Liverpool boss for raising the profile of Scottish football. 

That one and the Danny McGrain yarn were typical of Rodgers and his ego, taking a leaf out of that book Lennon told The Sun: 

On a day off, I’ll go to the gym or go to the beach. I’m into Greek salads now, they’re wonderful. 

I wasn’t sure how I’d adapt to living in a different culture. But I’ve enjoyed every minute of it. 

People recognise you in the street but they’re far more respectful than opposition fans would be back home. 

That’s a novelty for me. There’s no abuse at all. I’ve had Anorthosis fans come over to me and say, ‘Hi coach, welcome to Cyprus’. Even APOEL fans, who are our biggest rivals, have been sound. 

In April 2017 Rodgers told the Daily Record: 

I’ve met Rangers supporters and, in the main, they have been very good. I remember sitting in a bit of traffic in the Clyde Tunnel. There was an incident which meant all the cars were stopped. 

I saw this guy coming out of his car in a blue top and I thought, ‘Here we go’. 

But he said, ‘I just wanted to say thank you for coming up to Scottish football. I’m a Rangers supporter but you’re a breath of fresh air up here’ 

So I thought, ‘Right, get me out of this tunnel quick!’ No, it’s been great. In the times I have been out, it’s been all right.

Any city you would get a bit of stick, like when I was Liverpool manager and there were Everton supporters in. I’m not saying all Rangers supporters have been very welcoming but, you know, in the main. 

I live in a lovely part of the world just outside the city. I can pop into the city. I don’t go in so much of course, but when I do people are great. You could go to a different restaurant every night and enjoy great food, it’s a very cosmopolitan city.