Man United's Europa League opponents Omonia Nicosia are coached by Neil Lennon

The UEFA Europa League continues to throw up all kinds of mystique and wonder for Manchester United.

Having played their first-ever match in Moldova last month, the Reds are now set to take on Cypriot opposition for the first time in their long and illustrious European history.

But the GSP Stadium has hosted United previously - what might be described as an experimental line-up lost 3-0 there to Israeli team Maccabi Haifa, forced to play on neutral ground, in the 2002-03 first group phase.

And in the opposition dug-out against AC Omonia Nicosia on Thursday night will be a familiar face.

Neil Lennon had many a fiery midfield battle with United when he was a Leicester City player and also played for Celtic against them in the 2006-07 Champions League. Cristiano Ronaldo was in the United team beaten 1-0 at Parkhead.

Indeed, such was Lennon's character, he even had a bust-up with David Beckham during Ryan Giggs's testimonial match in 2001, with Roy Keane the unlikely peacemaker.

Lennon was also in charge of Celtic when they encountered Sir Alex Ferguson's United side in Toronto during pre-season in 2010, losing 3-1.

But this is his first competitive meeting with United as a coach.

Indeed, the Northern Irishman will become only the second British manager to take charge of an overseas club against United after Bruce Rioch for Aalborg in the 2008-09 Champions League.

The 51-year-old had been out of work just over a year after resigning from the Celtic job in February 2021 when he took over at Omonia in March this year.

Funnily enough, he replaced the former United defender Henning Berg, who has subsequently gone to Cypriot First Division rival Pafos.

With not much time to improve fortunes, Omonia finished seventh in the league but they did win the Cypriot Cup for the first time in a decade, beating Ethnikos Achna on penalties after a 0-0 draw.

That was even more impressive given that their Nigerian right-back Abdullahi Shehu was sent off after just five minutes, with Lennon himself sent to the stands for dissent at the end of extra time.

Omonia's 15th Cypriot Cup triumph - only rivals APOEL have won more (21), likewise with league championships (28 to 21) - earned them a play-off spot in the Europa League.

They destroyed Belgian club Gent 4-0 on aggregate to make the group stage for the second time in their history.

Lennon proclaimed he wanted a 'sexy draw' and he certainly got it, with tournament favourites United, Spanish club Real Sociedad and Moldovans Sheriff Tiraspol paired with them.

It's proved tough going so far with Sheriff 3-0 winners at the GSP Stadium on matchday one.

There was brief hope Omonia might take a point away to Sociedad when their Brazilian winger Bruno Felipe equalised but they ultimately went down 2-1.

It leaves them needing to take points off United either on Thursday or at Old Trafford next week to stand any chance of progressing.

The third-placed side does drop into the Europa Conference League, which could offer some European football after Christmas.

Lennon will have to keep his cool if things go wrong. Only at the weekend, he launched into a tirade at the standard of refereeing in Cyprus after his side won 2-0 against Doxa, leaving them fourth but only three points off the top.

'I don't understand the officiating in this country. Why does it take them so long to make a decision on a penalty? It drives people - players, supporters, coaches - crazy,' he fumed.

Among a multi-cultural squad at Omonia - which means 'unity' or 'concord' in Greek - are two Englishmen and a Welshman.

Winger Brandon Barker, 26, supports United but came through the youth ranks at Man City.

He was poised for a first-team breakthrough under Manuel Pellegrini and made his debut against Chelsea in the FA Cup in 2016.

But Pep Guardiola's arrival saw Barker sent on a succession of loans before he left for Rangers in 2019. He came to Omonia in the summer having worked under Lennon during a loan at Hibernian.

Lennon also knows striker Gary Hooper, 34, well from their time together at Celtic between 2010 and 2013, though he has only played 15 minutes for the club so far.

The Welshman is Adam Matthews, a 30-year-old right-back who also played for Lennon at Celtic.

No doubt Omonia's green colours and the shamrock on the club crest appealed to their manager, who can approach this double-header with United knowing his team have absolutely nothing to lose.