It's been little over a year since Peter Lawwell waltzed into the Hampden showers and made Neil Lennon the offer he'd been waiting for.
Quite whether he'd expected to receive it while cutting about in his flip-flops is another matter, but from the moment the final whistle blew on the 2019 Scottish Cup, he must've felt it was in the post.
The decision to name Lennon as Brendan Rodgers ' permanent successor was not universally acclaimed by supporters, with some legitimate concerns despite guiding the club to the treble Treble.
The Irishman took some time to reflect on Lawwell's offer and it was a year ago on Sunday that the word "interim" was scored from his job title.
His ascension to Rodgers' throne was actually greeted favourably across the city at Rangers, but 12 months on there's only been one side of the Glasgow divide rejoicing.
Here are four ways Lennon defied his doubters.
Style of play
Perhaps the primary concern over Lennon's initial appointment was that the football on show following Rodgers' departure wasn't particularly eye-catching. His 11 Premiership matches included three laborious goalless draws and a defeat to Rangers, albeit after the league had been won.
Celtic only scored more than twice in a league game once - the 3-0 triumph over Aberdeen which sealed the title. This must be caveated by the fact Lennon repeatedly stressed he was not prepared to rip up Rodgers' blueprint overnight, insisting continuity was key.
In truth, the swashbuckling style which accompanied Rodgers' first season hadn't been witnessed consistently for some time before he left and Lennon inherited a tiring squad entering the business end of yet another incredibly gruelling campaign.
Once Lennon was given the opportunity to work over a full summer the results were, on the domestic front at least, instant. Celtic routed St Johnstone 7-0 on opening day with a high risk, high reward style that continued to produce goals and victories as the weeks wore on.
Even when an indifferent late 2019 spell culminated in a first home defeat to Rangers since 2011, Lennon was undeterred. The manager took his squad to Dubai to dream it all up again, returning with a 3-5-2 formation which catalysed the blistering run which eventually delivered Nine in a Row.
Euro memories
The scepticism which met Lennon's appointment turned to anger in some quarters thanks to a quite disastrous Champions League qualifying exit to Cluj. Celtic surrendered a position of strength to the relatively ordinary Romanian champions and the decision to deploy Callum McGregor at left-back ensured some heavy flak came the manager's way.
Dropping into the Europa League was very much a second prize but Lennon went on to guide his team to the top of their group ahead of Serie A title chasers Lazio, whom they defeated home and away. The lucky fans who made the trip to Rome and witnessed Olivier Ntcham's last-gasp winner will never forget the scenes which followed.
The two clashes with the Italians also addressed a Rodgers Achilles Heel, with Celtic often outmatched and out-gunned against heavyweight European opposition. Success on Lazio's own patch was a mix of tactics, grit, quality and belief - the last of which often deserted Celtic away on the continent under Rodgers.
The second leg nightmare against Copenhagen was baffling in contrast and certainly puts a blot on Lennon's copybook, but those group stage memories will last a lifetime for some.
A calm head
The Lennon who massacred those water bottles in Inverness nearly a decade past was great value for the watching punter but he's had several years away from the Glasgow goldfish bowl since then.
A few high-profile run-ins with Jim Duffy and referee Steven McLean while at Hibs suggested time hadn't fully quelled a tendency for the odd explosion, but Lennon has been a picture of relative calm in the Celtic dugout.
Midway through this season he was asked what he'd say to that man from 2011 and his answer was indicative of how he's handled things since returning.
Lennon said in January: “Calm down. You can’t do everything yourself, son.
“Take a step back and smell the roses.”
It appears he did just that on the winter trip to Dubai, re-assessing his squad and returning for the second half of the season with renewed purpose. If the old Lennon may have blown up in the aftermath of the defeat to Rangers in December, which some saw as a potentially game-changing moment, the 2020 version simply got on with the task in hand.
The manager proved he had the temperament for the psychological battle and, in turn, so did his players - they cruised to win after win while Rangers imploded across the city.
Delivering Nine in a Row
Stating the obvious, perhaps, but there were plenty who doubted whether Lennon was the right choice to achieve the record-equalling feat. Former Celt Charlie Nicholas was among the most high profile, suggesting the club should've looked for a left-field option such as Slaven Bilic.
Any lingering doubts over his suitability were surely shattered before the league was declared over - the Betfred Cup Final success over Rangers kept the club's remarkable domestic silverware streak rolling.
But it was the question of whether he would deliver a ninth consecutive league crown which was at the crux of the debate over Lawwell's shower room show of faith.
On that count, there can be no question the former club captain defied any who doubted him. The 13 point gap opened up over Rangers when COVID-19 brought Scottish football to a halt would surely not have been overturned.
The question now, is whether he can go one better.z
