Club: Celtic FC (Scotland)

Season context (around 2020/21): Neil Lennon was the first‑team manager throughout the 2020/21 campaign. That season was one of transition and relative underperformance by Celtic’s recent standards: Rangers won the Scottish Premiership, and Celtic finished as runners‑up. The campaign was played in the continued context of COVID‑19 restrictions, which affected matchday revenue and squad planning.

• Manager: Neil Lennon — returned to the role in early 2019 and remained in charge through the end of the 2020/21 season, departing soon after the campaign concluded. His teams were typically organised, aggressive in press and transition, and aimed to play on the front foot with width and a single central striker.
• League (2020/21): Celtic finished 2nd in the Scottish Premiership, surrendering the title to Rangers after a tight campaign.
• Domestic cups (2020/21): Celtic did not complete a domestic cup double and were eliminated from the cup competitions; the season saw St Johnstone secure both Scottish domestic cups (a notable outcome in that campaign).
• European competition: Celtic started in UEFA Champions League qualifying but failed to reach the Champions League group stage and were involved in UEFA Europa League competition later that season.

Key players around that time (representative, not exhaustive):

• Odsonne Édouard — main striker and primary goalscorer for the club in this period.
• Callum McGregor — influential midfielder and central figure in Celtic’s build and control.
• Scott Brown — longtime captain and midfield leader (left the club shortly after the season).
• Kristoffer Ajer — important defender who provided versatility and was linked with moves abroad.
• Tom Rogic, James Forrest, and others — established first‑team contributors during the campaign.

Tactical notes and squad situation: Lennon generally deployed a front‑foot approach with variations of a 4‑2‑3‑1 or 4‑3‑3 shape, relying on wide players to supply the central striker. The 2020/21 season highlighted a squad in need of refreshment — there were injury issues, aging profiles in key positions, and financial constraints due to the pandemic that limited summer spending and contributed to calls for a rebuild.

Aftermath: Following the 2020/21 season Neil Lennon left the managerial post and the club moved into a rebuilding phase under new leadership in the summer of 2021, with a focus on refreshing the squad and restoring domestic dominance.

Summary: The 2020/21 season for Celtic under Neil Lennon was a challenging one: the club finished second in the league, failed to win domestic cups, and did not achieve a Champions League group‑stage return. It marked the end of Lennon’s recent tenure and the start of a transitional period for the club.