Wilfried Nancy is a relative unknown in European soccer, however does that imply Celtic are taking a threat?
The 48-year-old has signed a two-and-a-half-year deal on the Scottish Premiership champions, taking on from interim duo Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney.
Nancy gained the Canadian Championship title throughout his solely season at CF Montreal, earlier than serving to Columbus Crew clinch the MLS Cup and Leagues Cup, plus he guided the workforce to the CONCACAF Champions Cup closing throughout his three years on the membership.
Few had heard of Ange Postecoglou earlier than he took cost at Parkhead in 2021, and he was written off by many after a shaky begin as Neil Lennon’s substitute.
However 5 home trophies in two seasons would inform you that familiarity is just not important for fulfillment.
Why did Celtic need Nancy?
Sky Sports activities Information’ Anthony Joseph:
Celtic see many similarities between Nancy and Postecoglou, who left the membership in 2023 to take over at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Frenchman was advisable by the membership’s head of soccer operations, Paul Tisdale, who had been monitoring his progress for a while.
Postecoglou gained titles in Australia and Japan, plus the Asian Cup with the Australian nationwide workforce.
Ange Postecoglou gained 5 trophies in two seasons with Celtic
Nonetheless, Nancy is youthful than Postecoglou and has already gained silverware in America and Canada. His affect has been recognised with each membership honours and private ones, after being named MLS Coach of the Yr in 2024.
In simply 4 years of administration, Nancy has achieved success. This has come to the eye of Celtic, who really feel he could make that subsequent step into European soccer and be the everlasting successor to Brendan Rodgers.
What can we find out about Nancy?
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MLS skilled Tom Bogert assesses Nancy’s affect and tells Celtic followers what they will count on from a ‘defining supervisor’
“Wilfred Nancy is one of the defining managers of the last half-decade in Major League Soccer.”
A daring assertion, however MLS skilled Tom Bogert is in little doubt concerning the high quality of Celtic’s new boss.
“His tactical evolution, the way the team plays, how brave they are, how courageous, it’s total football that starts from the back,” The Athletic journalist added.
Columbus Crew performed front-footed, possession-based soccer beneath Nancy
“He likes to play out of a back three, but his outside centre-backs have freedom to get forward.
“His wing-backs play like wingers. Each at Montreal after which Columbus, virtually each attacker he is labored with has had their best-ever season.
“He is a developmental manager. He gets the best out of young players, in prime players and older players, and he plays a front-footed possession-based attractive style of football.”
Nancy established himself as one of many MLS’s prime coaches, incomes the 2024 MLS Coach of the Yr prize after narrowly lacking out two years prior.
Regardless of ending seventh within the Jap Convention this season, his affect on these he works with ought to excite Celtic followers, in accordance with Bogert.
“The players all rave about him,” he added. “[Middlesbrough midfielder] Aidan Morris said to me ‘I think Wilfried Nancy is one of the best managers in the world, like kind of full stop.’
“That seems like a ridiculous factor to say, however that is how effectively he is revered amongst his present and former gamers and everyone round him.
“We’ll see exactly how it manifests itself on the field, but I don’t have any doubts over his mentality. It will be difficult when he takes over midseason.
“This might have been a lot simpler if he got here in the summertime, whether or not it is a Celtic or some other membership. What I used to be informed is he informed the Columbus Crew ‘I do not need to depart you midseason’ though it’d most likely be simpler for his profession and higher and extra choices.
“That’s kind of his character.”
Sutton: Nancy should hit the bottom operating after O’Neill’s masterclass
Since taking on from Brendan Rodgers, O’Neill noticed the hole on leaders Hearts shut from an eight-point deficit to simply two with a sport in hand.
The Hoops are additionally within the League Cup closing after beating Rangers, plus may but qualify to the subsequent stage of the Europa League after a 3-1 win away to Feyenoord.
Talking on Sky Sports activities, former Celtic striker Chris Sutton stated: “Martin took over a team which was low on confidence. There had been issues performance-wise all season.
“Had he misplaced a couple of video games and issues went badly, individuals would have stated ‘he wasn’t up for the job, he by no means ought to have come again’.
“I was worried about his legacy, because of my relationship with him, but I’m absolutely delighted for him.”
When requested what O’Neill’s spectacular run of outcomes means for Nancy, Sutton added: “Each passing win goes to actually put the stress on him as a result of everyone will count on Wilfred Nancy to come back in with the workforce, which appears to be extra assured, and hit the bottom operating.
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Sky Sports activities’ Chris Sutton on the job completed by Martin O’Neill at Celtic, and the duty at hand for Wilfried Nancy
“It won’t take long for things to turn, with Martin doing so well. I think it’s really difficult for him because there are three games a week, and there’s no real time to work on the training ground.
“If he does play a again three, which is seemingly the best way that he performs at Columbus Crew, to come back in and implement that – I do not assume that is simple.”
Celtic’s upcoming fixtures
- Hearts (H) – Scottish Premiership – Sunday – dwell on Sky Sports activities
- Roma (H) – Europa League – December 11
- St Mirren (N) – League Cup closing – December 14
- Dundee Utd (A) – Scottish Premiership – December 1 – dwell on Sky Sports activities
- Aberdeen (H) – Scottish Premiership – December 21
