We chat to opposition legends and find out their most formidable sky blue team.
Lennon started his career here at Manchester City, from 1987-1990 before moving on to Crewe and eventually the Foxes, where he enjoyed real success under Martin O’Neill.
O’Neill, another former City player and a contributor to this series earlier this season, then brought Lennon to Celtic where he further added to his trophy haul – as both a player and eventually a manager, including ten Scottish Premier League titles, eight Scottish Cups and three Scottish League Cups.
BIOGRAPHY
Neil Lennon has enjoyed huge success in his career in both England and Scotland.
He spent three years at Manchester City, coming through the youth ranks alongside the likes of Gerry Taggart, Michael Hughes, Ashley Ward and Mike Sheron.
He made one senior appearance in sky blue against Birmingham City before eventually moving to Crewe Alexandra in August 1990.
After a solid spell at Alex, he joined Leicester City in February 1996 and won promotion to the Premier League three months later in the Play-off Final at Wembley.
He enjoyed more success at Filbert Street, winning two League Cups in 1997 and 2000 under boss Martin O’Neill who went on to sign the combative midfielder for Celtic in December 2000.
That season saw Lennon pick-up three winner’s medals as Celtic swept to a domestic treble, winning the Scottish Premier League, Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup.
In total as a player at Parkhead, he won five Scottish Premier League titles, four Scottish Cups, two Scottish League Cups as well as being an integral part of the Celtic side that reached the UEFA Cup Final in 2003.
During two spells as boss of his beloved Celtic, he won five more Scottish League Championship titles, four Scottish Cups and one League Cup.
This Saturday, he will be in the City Studios as a guest pundit on the City v Leicester game, alongside Paul Dickov and Joleon Lescott.
Here, ahead of the game, he selects the best City team made up of players he played with at the club and the best sky blue stars around during his time in English football.
GOALKEEPER: TONY COTON
I used to do Eric Nixon’s kit and boots. We played against each other, too. I loved Eric.
But I’ve gone for Tony Coton. He was a brilliant goalkeeper – one of the best in England at the time.
I’ve met him many times since and he’s a great football guy. And as a goalkeeper, he was top-class.
RIGHT-BACK: IAN BRIGHTWELL
Ian Brightwell was absolutely superb.
He was in that great Manchester City Youth Team in the 1980s.
He could get up and down the pitch all day long.
I made one appearance for City and that was against Birmingham City. I was 16. Ian played in midfield that day and scored two. I’ll never forget it.
He was a great lad, too, so I just had to get him in there.
CENTRE-BACK: COLIN HENDRY
Colin Hendry was brilliant, absolutely brilliant.
I remember him scoring a great goal against Manchester United in the 1990 derby.
He was tough as teak. He was a superb centre-half.
CENTRE-BACK: GERRY TAGGART
Partnering Colin Hendry at the back would be my old mate, Gerry Taggart.
It’s an amazing story – we grew up together from the age of 12, we ended up at City and then we went our separate ways for a while and then we ended up at Leicester and won the League Cup together there.
We are lifelong friends. He had a great career.
LEFT-BACK: ANDY HINCHCLIFFE
Like Ian Brightwell, Andy Hinchcliffe was part of that great Youth Team set-up at City.
That team won the Youth Cup together. There was Ian, Andy, David White, Steve Redmond, Paul Lake.
He was brilliant down that left side. He had a wonderful left foot.
He scored a great goal in that famous 5-1 game against Manchester United in 1989 – a header to complete the scoring. That was an incredible match!
I view him as one of the first versions of the modern-day full-back.
LEFT MIDFIELD: GEORGI KINKLADZE
There was only one name on my list for that position and that was Georgi Kinkladze.
He was a genius. He really was a wonderful, wonderful player.
He burst on the scene and some of the goals he scored were incredible.
I actually played against him when he went to Derby County and I always just felt I had to keep my eye on him all the time.
His dribbling skills and his balance out there on the pitch were brilliant. In his pomp, he was some player.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: IAN BISHOP
I saw Ian Bishop play for Bournemouth at Maine Road. He was brilliant!
Then he arrived at City and he was just total class. He had pure elegance. He had wonderful technique, could switch the ball with both feet and he had a goal in him!
And, of course, he looked cool as well with the long hair, too.
He went on to West Ham and I played against him when he was there.
I loved him as a player. He was so good.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: PAUL LAKE
Paul Lake was the easiest choice of the lot in this team.
He had everything. He was a Rolls-Royce of a player. Barring injuries, Paul would have played for England many, many times, including at major tournaments. He would have had an unbelievable career.
He had everything. He had a great engine. He was brilliant with both feet. He could play in midfield and defence. He could score goals. He could tackle. He was a fine header of the ball.
Whenever I watched him play, I just thought he was one of the very best in England.
They spoke about him being the next Colin Bell and you could see that. He was that good.
RIGHT MIDFIELD: DAVID WHITE
David White, like a few others in this team, was in that famous Youth Team of the 1980s.
He scored a lot of goals from the right side and I know he did play up front at times for City, too.
He was a flying machine. He was so fast. He got into the England squad, too, which obviously showcases his quality.
He would get you double figures every year from the right wing and he was a great crosser of the ball, too.
He was a brilliant lad to be around, too.
STRIKER: ASHLEY WARD
I played with Ashley Ward in the Youth Team at City and we came through the ranks together.
He came to Crewe with me and had a really great time there.
He was part of that group with Danny Murphy, Rob Jones, David Platt, Robbie Savage and then there was myself, Dean Ashton and Ashley where we had to take a step back to go forward again.
He did that really well. He was a great striker, very good with his back to goal. He had a great career and wherever he went he scored.
He was a brilliant lad and it’s funny seeing him now on the television.
STRIKER: TREVOR MORLEY
Partnering Ashley Ward is Trevor Morley - Tricky Trev.
When I was coming through, I had to get his boots and kit ready in the morning. At the end of the season, he’d slip me a few quid.
He scored the winning goal at Bradford to get City promoted and he gave me his boots that day. I still have them in the house.
He was a lovely lad who scored a lot of important goals for City.
