The 2 Celtic success stories that Neil Lennon bursts with pride over as he jokingly plots Dunfermline transfer swoop
Lennon handed Forrest his debut 15 years ago and the rest is history.
Five league titles, four Scottish Cups, a League Cup … and a debut for a teenager who would go on to eclipse everything and everyone.
Neil Lennon achieved so much as Celtic manager. But while he might not have known it at the time, the moment he let an 18-year-old James Forrest off the leash in May 2010 might just be one of his proudest.
That goalscoring cameo against Motherwell kickstarted a remarkable career that has seen Forrest become the club’s outright most decorated player of all time with an incredible 26 trophies.
His latest - a 13th league winner’s medal - was topped off with an injury time goal on the final day of the season that might only have secured a little required point against St Mirren but far more importantly kept the winger’s outrageous record of scoring in every one of his 16 seasons intact.
Lennon insists he’s one of the most exciting players the club has ever had. And he reckons the 33-year-old isn’t finished yet. Not by a long shot.
Lennon, now looking to bring through the next generation of stars as boss of Dunfermline, said: “Wonderful. I'm so proud of him.
“You couldn't write a better story when he got the last-minute goal against St Mirren.
“What a player. He was like that when he was 18. He's so humble. He's never changed. He shies away from all the spotlight and just gets on with his football.
“He's one of the most exciting players Celtic have ever had. Jamesy would drive at you from the left, he'd drive at you from the right. He's a great finisher. He had his ups and downs with injuries but if you talk to every player or every manager who's worked with him, he's just been a joy to work with.
“I managed him twice and he always delivered. I loved him. I loved watching him play because he’s different.
“Wanting to take people on. That was his remit when he was younger. I said ‘I want you to run at people’ and he was brilliant at it. He was a really good finisher as well. He's had a mega career.”
Nobody who has ever worn the Hoops can claim to have lifted so many trophies. Forrest has overtaken Lisbon Lion Bobby Lennon and left every other Parkhead icon in his wake.
Lennon said: “It’s incredible. And you wouldn’t know.. he just shrugs his shoulders and wants to get the next one!
“But the consistency he had and the talent. He’s not lost that change of pace either. He can do you from a standing position.
“He still has that wee electric burst to get away from people.
“And his finishing has always been top class with both feet. You could play him anywhere along that front three or even now as he’s getting older you could play him as a 10.
“I’ll try and get him here to Dunfermline. I’ll have a chat!”
Lennon knows the manager’s job, first and foremost, is to deliver success.
He’s now looking to do just that at Dunfermline, with a two-year plan to get the Pars back into the Premiership. The perfect scenario for the 53-year-old though is developing youngsters who can go on to help the club achieve those targets.
Nine years after Forrest’s arrival, and in his second spell as boss at Parkhead, Lennon spent £300,000 to sign an untried teenager from Manchester City.
Jeremie Frimpong would make his professional debut soon after. Six years later and he’s just moved from Bayer Leverkusen to Liverpool for £29.5m.
Lennon said: “You get a huge amount of satisfaction from it. I love it.
“Frimpong is another one. He's just come to Liverpool. I get a lot of satisfaction from that as well, having worked with him for a couple of seasons and what an impact he had on Celtic.
“Then he's gone on to do amazing things in Germany to the point where he's now signing for the Premier League champions.
“You get a buzz out of that. You can say to the young players, this is what you can achieve if you really put your mind to it and look after yourself and protect your talent.”
“I couldn't keep Frimpong out. He was that good. We had good players at the club at the time, but once we saw him training, he was just taking our breath away.”
If they’re good enough, they’re old enough. It’s a mantra he’ll never tire of using at East End Park where Lennon hopes to blood more young talent if they show they’re ready.
He said: “Yeah. If they’re good enough and I've already been impressed with a few of them.”
It’s not only about being good enough technically though. Lennon knows his players will also need a steely mentality ready for the rigours of the most competitive league in Scotland where his own presence in the dug out will bring a sense of ‘scalp’ to anyone leaving East End Park with the points.
He said: “That is what the pre-season is for, not just building them up physically but mentally as well.
“My reason to be is coaching and I like winning things. That is what I want to bring to Dunfermline. It is a big club, it is privilege to be the manager of the bigger teams.
“I’m not going to say we are going to play the way any other team plays because we are Dunfermline and we way to play the way our fans want us to play.
“We are building something here and it will take a bit of time to find the key components we want from the team.
"How have I changed as a boss? Age. I am about a stone heavier too!
“I’m certainly not as emotional as I was, certainly not 24:7 because you cannot do that, it is impossible. I know how to manage my time better, how you address the players has changed as well. I am not saying I am any better but I am certainly more mature.”
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