Celtic Football Club have officially announced Wilfried Nancy as their new permanent manager, bringing the French coach from Major League Soccer's Columbus Crew to Glasgow. Nancy, who led the Crew to MLS Cup glory in 2023, has signed a two-and-a-half year contract to succeed the departed Brendan Rodgers.
From MLS Success to Celtic Park
The 47-year-old arrives at Celtic Park with a burgeoning reputation, having been named MLS Coach of the Year in 2024 after winning the Leagues Cup. His tenure at Columbus also saw him guide the team to the final of the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2023. This season, the Crew finished seventh in the MLS Eastern Conference before an early playoff exit to FC Cincinnati.
Nancy takes over a Celtic side sitting two points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, albeit with a game in hand. The team has been in impressive form under interim boss Martin O'Neill, winning all four of their league matches and securing a League Cup final berth against St Mirren on 14 December.
A New Chapter Begins
In his first statement as Celtic manager, Nancy was quick to pay tribute to the interim setup. "I am so happy to be named Celtic manager, it is a massive honour for myself and my family," he said. "Before I say anything else I want to thank the great Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney for all they have done in recent weeks with the team. The job they have done has been fantastic."
He added: "Now its up to me to carry on this great work and carry our great club forward and I can't wait to get going and become part of such a brilliant institution."
Club Leadership Backs the Appointment
Celtic's principal shareholder, Dermot Desmond, who was publicly critical of Brendan Rodgers upon his exit, offered a warm welcome to the new boss. "We believe we have brought a hugely talented manager to the club," Desmond stated. "He is a man who absolutely understands the demands at Celtic, he is a man of real humility but also someone with his own ideas, his own vision and such a personal drive and desire to do well."
Chairman Peter Lawwell echoed the sentiment, saying: "We are really pleased to welcome Wilfried to Celtic. He is a Manager with a record which demonstrates the kind of football which we know Celtic supporters love to see."
Nancy, who was initially considered an outsider for the role, fits Celtic's profile of an ambitious, progressive coach willing to work within the club's structure. His first opportunity for silverware comes quickly, with the League Cup final just weeks away. He will be in the dugout for Celtic's next match following O'Neill's final game in temporary charge against Dundee.
