Danny Lennon
Scottish football manager (born 1969)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Daniel Joseph Lennon (born 6 April 1969) is a Scottish professional football manager and former player.
|
Lennon as Clyde manager in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Daniel Joseph Lennon[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 6 April 1969 | ||
| Place of birth | Whitburn, Scotland | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1984-1985 | Hutchison Vale | ||
| 1985-1987 | Hibernian | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1987–1993 | Hibernian | 37 | (2) |
| 1993–1999 | Raith Rovers | 152 | (14) |
| 1999 | Ayr United | 7 | (1) |
| 1999 | Ross County | 7 | (0) |
| 1999–2003 | Partick Thistle | 98 | (12) |
| 2003–2005 | Gretna | 10 | (0) |
| 2006 | Workington | 0 | (0) |
| 2006–2008 | Cowdenbeath | 18 | (0) |
| Total | 330 | (29) | |
| International career | |||
| 1995–1998 | Northern Ireland B | 4 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2008–2010 | Cowdenbeath | ||
| 2010–2014 | St Mirren | ||
| 2015 | Scotland U21 (caretaker) | ||
| 2015 | Alloa Athletic | ||
| 2016 | Airdrieonians (interim) | ||
| 2017–2022 | Clyde | ||
| 2025 | Airdrieonians | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
In his playing career, Lennon is best known for scoring a free kick for Raith Rovers against Bayern Munich during an UEFA Cup tie in 1995 and winning the Scottish Second and First Division as captain of Partick Thistle in 2001 and 2002.
It was at Raith, where he would also experience international football with Northern Ireland B.
Lennon began his managerial career with Cowdenbeath in June 2008. Having led the Blue Brazil to promotion from the Scottish Third Division to the First Division, he was appointed St Mirren manager in June 2010. He won the 2012–13 Scottish League Cup with the Buddies but his contract was not renewed in 2014. After a caretaker spell in charge of the Scotland under-21s, Lennon managed Alloa Athletic from April to December 2015.
Following a stint as acting head coach of Airdrieonians, Lennon was appointed Clyde manager in November 2017, where he remained for five years until October 2022. Under his management, Clyde secured promotion to Scottish League One in the 2018-19 season.
Lennon returned to Airdrieonians for a second spell as manager from August to October 2025.
Playing career
Club
Lennon began his career as a youth player at Hutchison Vale before signing his first professional contract at Hibernian. He then signed for Raith Rovers for £30,000 in 1993.[2][3] At Raith, he was part of the squad that won the Scottish League Cup in 1994, but he missed the final due to injury. Raith qualified for the UEFA Cup thanks to winning the League Cup.
Lennon scored in Raith’s second leg tie against Bayern Munich, which briefly gave them the lead at the Munich Olympic Stadium.[4] In 2023, Lennon was inducted into the Raith Rovers Hall of Fame.[5]
After leaving Raith in 1999, he played for Ayr United, Ross County, Partick Thistle, where he won two league titles, Gretna, Workington and Cowdenbeath.
On 18 November 2011, Lennon was inducted into the Partick Thistle Hall of Fame, receiving legendary status.[6]
At the age of 50, Lennon briefly came out of retirement in 2019, 11 years after he last played, as a substitute for Clyde against Celtic B in the Glasgow Cup.[7]
International
During his time at Raith Rovers, Lennon won four caps for Northern Ireland B.[4] Lennon was eligible to play for Northern Ireland through his grandmother.[4]
Managerial career
Cowdenbeath
Lennon was appointed as Cowdenbeath manager on 11 June 2008, replacing Brian Welsh.[8] Lennon managed the club to two successive promotions amid financial difficulties at the club.[9]
In his first season, Lennon led the Blue Brazil to second place in the 2008-09 Scottish Third Division only to lose the promotion play-off final to Stenhousemuir on penalties.[10] However, as a result of Livingston's demotion, the club were promoted to the Scottish Second Division.[11]
After their unprecedented promotion to the third tier, Lennon guided the club to the Scottish First Division for the first time in 16 years with victory over Brechin City in the play-off final.[12]
St Mirren
Lennon was appointed manager of Scottish Premier League club St Mirren on 7 June 2010, signing a two-year contract to succeed Gus MacPherson.[13]
Lennon secured the first win of his tenure with a 1–0 win over Hibernian on 29 August 2010.[14] The Buddies finished the 2010-11 season in 11th place, managing to avoid relegation.
Over the summer, Lennon decided to make wholesale changes across the club. Lennon's signings included Scottish internationals, Gary Teale from Sheffield Wednesday and Steven Thompson from Burnley while replacing long-term assistant manager Iain Jenkins with Tommy Craig.
St Mirren started the season by beating local rivals Greenock Morton 4–2 in the Renfrewshire Cup final and Aberdeen in the first home game of the 2011-12 season. Lennon agreed a new contract with St Mirren on 23 November 2011, keeping him at the club until the summer of 2014.[15]
The following season, Lennon led the Buddies to their first ever Scottish League Cup triumph in a 3–2 win over Heart of Midlothian. It was the club's first major silverware since winning the Scottish Cup in 1987,[16] and the fourth major honour in their history.
After the 2013–14 season was completed, St Mirren decided not to offer Lennon a new contract.[17] During his time in Paisley, the club achieved their highest league position in over 20 years, finishing eighth in the 2011-12 and 2013-14 seasons.
In October 2017, Lennon was inducted into the club's Hall of Fame, cementing his status as a St Mirren legend.[18]
Scotland Under 21s
On 18 February 2015, Lennon was appointed caretaker manager of the Scotland national under-21 football team.[19] He took charge of one friendly match, a 2–1 victory against Hungary.[20]
Alloa Athletic
Lennon was appointed manager of Alloa Athletic on 7 April 2015, succeeding Barry Smith on a one-year deal with five matches of the 2014–15 season remaining.[21]
Lennon would lead the Wasps to a historic third consecutive season in the Scottish Championship with victory against Forfar Athletic in the play-off final.[22] However, after five points from the first 16 games of the 2015-16 season, Lennon resigned on 7 December 2015.[23]
Airdrieonians
In March 2016, Airdrieonians manager Eddie Wolecki Black suffered a stroke during a Scottish League One match against Cowdenbeath.[24]
To allow Wolecki Black to recover, on 10 March, Lennon was appointed acting head coach on an interim basis until the end of the 2015–16 season, leading the club to fifth place, a point below the promotion play-offs.[25]
Clyde
Lennon returned to management with Scottish League Two club Clyde on 13 November 2017, after the departure of Jim Chapman.[26]
The Bully Wee's results improved in the first months of Lennon's tenure, with the club climbing from eighth position to finish the 2017-18 season in fifth place, three points behind the promotion play-offs.
On 7 May 2019, Lennon agreed terms to remain as Clyde manager for at least an additional two years, which was later extended to the end of the 2021–22 season.[27]
He led the Bully Wee to Scottish League One on 18 May 2019, after beating Annan Athletic to win the play-off final, thus ending their nine-year exile in the bottom tier.[28] This saw Lennon receive the SPFL League Two Manager of the Season award.[29] In their first season back in the third tier, Clyde finished seventh in the 2019-20 season when it was curtailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
On 8 April 2022, Lennon put pen to paper on a new two-year contract with the club, on a deal until May 2024.[30]
Despite, achieving Clyde’s best start to a league campaign in 11 years during the 2022-23 season, it was confirmed on 31 October, that Lennon had departed the club after a nine-match winless run. The announcement came a week after he was placed on 'paid authorised absence'.[31][32]
Having spent five years at the club, Lennon holds the distinction of Clyde's longest-serving manager in over 30 years.
Return to Airdrieonians
Lennon returned to Airdrieonians, now in the Scottish Championship, as successor to Rhys McCabe on 27 August 2025.[33] He left the club on 22 October, after eight matches in charge.[34]
Managerial statistics
As of 21 October 2025
| Team | From | To | Record | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | |||
| Cowdenbeath | 11 June 2008 | 7 June 2010 | 91 | 41 | 26 | 24 | 45.05 |
| St Mirren | 7 June 2010 | 12 May 2014 | 180 | 50 | 56 | 74 | 27.78 |
| Scotland U21 (caretaker) | 18 February 2015 | 7 April 2015 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Alloa Athletic | 7 April 2015 | 7 December 2015 | 27 | 6 | 3 | 18 | 22.22 |
| Airdrieonians (interim) | 10 March 2016 | 30 April 2016 | 8 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 37.50 |
| Clyde | 13 November 2017 | 25 October 2022 | 199 | 79 | 33 | 87 | 39.70 |
| Airdrieonians | 27 August 2025 | 22 October 2025 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 0.00 |
| Total | 512 | 180 | 124 | 208 | 35.16 | ||
- Lennon's announcement as Alloa Athletic manager didn't take effect until 9 April 2015. The intervening match against Heart of Midlothian on 8 April was taken by caretaker manager Paddy Connolly.[35]
Honours and achievements
Player
- Raith Rovers
- Scottish First Division winners (1): 1994–95
- Scottish League Cup winners (1): 1994–95
- Partick Thistle
- Scottish First Division winners (1): 2001–02
- Scottish Second Division winners (1): 2000–01
Manager
- Cowdenbeath
- Scottish First Division play-off winners (1): 2009–10
- Scottish Second Division promotion (1): 2008–09
- St Mirren
- Scottish League Cup winners (1): 2012–13
- Renfrewshire Cup winners (3): 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
- Alloa Athletic
- Scottish Championship play-off winners (1): 2014–15
- Clyde
- Scottish League One play-off winners (1): 2018–19
- North Lanarkshire Cup winners (2): 2020–21, 2021–22
Individual
- Third Division Manager of the Month: 2008-09 (1): January 2009
- Second Division Manager of the Month: 2009-10 (3): October 2009, November 2009, March 2010
- SPFL League Two Manager of the Month: 2017-18 (1): March 2018
- SPFL League Two Manager of the Month: 2018–19 (3): November 2018, January 2019, April 2019
- SPFL League Two Manager of the Season: 2018–19
