Celtic Football Club has taken drastic action, dismissing manager Wilfried Nancy with immediate effect following a dismal run of results. The decision comes hot on the heels of a damaging 3-1 defeat to arch-rivals Rangers in the Old Firm derby on Saturday.
A Short and Painful Reign at Parkhead
Wilfried Nancy's tenure at Celtic Park has ended after just eight matches in charge. The former Columbus Crew boss, who only signed a two-and-a-half-year deal at the beginning of December, oversaw a shocking six defeats during his brief spell. This included a run of four consecutive losses, leaving the Glasgow giants trailing Hearts at the summit of the Scottish Premiership.
In a club statement released on Monday, 5th January 2026, Celtic confirmed Nancy's departure. His backroom team of Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen, and Maxime Chalier have also left the club. Furthermore, Head of Football Operations Paul Tisdale has exited his role in the wake of the Rangers defeat.
A Familiar Face Returns to Steer the Ship
In a move aimed at providing instant stability, Celtic have turned to a legendary figure from their past. Martin O'Neill will return for a remarkable third spell as manager, taking the reins until the end of the current season. The club confirmed the appointment this evening, signalling a clear intent to salvage their campaign.
O'Neill will be supported by a coaching team including assistants Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham. Stephen McManus will also join existing coaches Gavin Strachan, Stevie Woods, and Greg Wallace to oversee first-team matters.
"I am really pleased, in fact, very honoured to be asked back to manage the team again," O'Neill stated. "My focus will be to try and get us back to winning ways if we can. We will need everyone right behind us." He also offered his condolences to Nancy, describing him as a "fine man" who he was sure would achieve success again.
Fallout and Future Focus
Interim chairman Brian Wilson expressed the club's "intense disappointment" at how Nancy's appointment unfolded. "By bringing Martin back to the club, we look forward with confidence," Wilson said. "He is a manager the players, staff and supporters know well, with a peerless reputation in football and a deep commitment to Celtic."
The immediate priority for O'Neill will be to close the six-point gap to league leaders Hearts. Despite the turmoil, Celtic remain in second place in the table. Wilson appealed for unity from the supporters to create the best environment for a "fight-back".
Nancy, speaking after the Rangers defeat but before his sacking, had remained defiant, insisting his team were "really, really close" to turning their fortunes around. However, the club's hierarchy decided that a change was necessary to halt the alarming slide, paving the way for Martin O'Neill's dramatic return to the Celtic Park dugout.
