Former Celtic and Hibernian manager Neil Lennon has been sacked by Rapid Bucharest after just six matches. The 53-year-old ex-Northern Ireland midfielder, who also had spells in charge at Bolton Wanderers and Omonia Nicosia, was appointed in May. A run of five draws and a defeat has Rapid sitting 12th in the 16-team SuperLiga. Backroom staff Iain Brunskill, Andrew Liddell and Kyirakos Televantos have also been relieved of their duties. A club statement on Lennon's departure read: "We thank him for all his dedication and energy on the Rapidu bench, especially since he has been through difficult times lately, and we wish him much success in the future!" Lennon, who also captained Celtic, had been at home in Northern Ireland earlier this month following the death of his mother. It is worth pointing out that Rapid Bucharest were winless in those six games under the management of Lennon. They lost only once but drew five times. One could argue that Lennon should have been given a bit more time but managers don't always get patience in the modern game. It is hard to see where his managerial career goes from here after disappointing stints in Cypriot and Romania. A full-time role in the media might be worth considering.
Neil Lennon's Rapid Bucharest Dismissal: A Disappointing End
Neil Lennon's time at Rapid Bucharest has ended after just three months. The former Celtic and Hibs boss had been under pressure after a poor start to the season, failing to win any of his six games in charge. The club's decision to part ways with Lennon came after a 1-1 draw with rivals Dinamo at the weekend. This result left Rapid winless in the Romanian top flight. Lennon's appointment at Rapid had been seen as a chance for him to rebuild his managerial career after a difficult spell at Omonia Nicosia. However, his time in charge of the Romanian club has been short-lived and disappointing.
The End of Lennon's Romanian Dream
A club statement released on August 13th confirmed the departure of the Northern Irish manager and his staff. The statement read: "Rapid parted company with Northern Irish coach Neil Lennon today, after only six stages of the current Romanian SuperLiga season. Arriving this summer, Neil Lennon did not manage to get any 'official' victory on the bench of Rapid, finishing five times in a tie and losing one match, the one with Petrolul (0-1), from Ploiesti. Along with Neil, other members of his staff will also leave, Iain Brunskill, Andrew Liddell or Kyirakos Televantos. We thank him for all his dedication and energy on the Rapidu bench, especially since he has been through difficult times lately, and we wish him much success in the future!" The statement also confirmed the appointment of Marius Sumudica as the new coach. Sumudica is a former player and manager of Rapid Bucharest, and he has also had spells in charge of other Romanian clubs. It is clear that the club has opted for a manager with a strong understanding of Romanian football in the hope of turning around their current fortunes.
Where Next for Neil Lennon?
Neil Lennon has had a rollercoaster of a career. He is a Celtic legend, winning 10 domestic honors as a manager in two spells at the club, and he also enjoyed success at Hibs, where he led the club to the Championship title. But he has also experienced his fair share of setbacks. His time in charge of Omonia Nicosia ended in dismissal, and now his Rapid Bucharest tenure has been cut short. It is unclear where Lennon will go from here, but it is likely that he will be looking for a new challenge soon. A full-time role in the media might be a possibility, but his ambition will likely lead him back to the dugout at some point.
Rapid Bucharest's New Era
The departure of Neil Lennon marks the start of a new era for Rapid Bucharest. The club has appointed Marius Sumudica as the new head coach, with the hope that he can bring back the glory days to the Giulesti. Sumudica has a wealth of experience in Romanian football and a strong understanding of the club. He will be looking to bring back the winning mentality to Rapid, but he will need to do so quickly. The club is currently 12th in the table and is in desperate need of a change in fortunes. Whether Sumudica is the man to lead them back to the top remains to be seen, but he will have the full support of the Rapid faithful. The pressure is on Sumudica to deliver results quickly, and the future of Rapid Bucharest depends on his success.
