Celtic Football Club have terminated the contract of manager Wilfried Nancy after a calamitous 33-day tenure that yielded just two victories from eight matches. The Frenchman's departure was confirmed in the wake of Saturday's damaging 3-1 home defeat to arch-rivals Rangers, a result that proved the final straw for the club's hierarchy.
A Reign Defined by Defeat
Nancy's brief and ill-fated spell at Celtic Park, which began with his appointment on 3 December, was characterised by poor results from the outset. He arrived on a two-and-a-half-year contract after leaving Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew, but failed to replicate any success in Glasgow.
The 48-year-old lost six of his eight games in all competitions. His tenure started with a home loss to Hearts and included a 3-0 Europa League defeat to Roma. A particularly damaging League Cup final loss to St Mirren was followed by a league defeat at Dundee United, severely undermining his position.
The Old Firm Final Straw
Saturday's match against Rangers at Celtic Park ultimately sealed Nancy's fate. Despite taking a 1-0 lead into half-time, his side collapsed in the second half to lose 3-1. This result left Celtic six points behind Hearts at the summit of the Scottish Premiership, a gap deemed unacceptable so soon after the interim success of Martin O'Neill.
O'Neill, who stepped in temporarily following Brendan Rodgers' resignation in late October, had won seven of his eight matches in charge, making Nancy's subsequent record appear even more stark by contrast.
Search for Stability Begins
Nancy's exit leaves Celtic in a precarious position, now actively seeking their third manager of the season. The club's statement confirmed his immediate departure, with the search for a permanent successor now a matter of urgency.
The swift and decisive action underscores the immense pressure at a club where domestic dominance is the minimum expectation. The board will be keen to appoint a figure capable of stabilising the squad and closing the gap at the top of the table with immediate effect.
