Celtic have named Wilfried Nancy because the membership’s new supervisor on a two-and-a-half 12 months deal.
The 48-year-old arrives from MLS facet Columbus Crew – the place he gained the MLS Cup and the Leagues Cup – to change into Brendan Rodgers’ everlasting successor, after he give up Parkhead for a second time in October.
Nancy’s first match shall be in opposition to Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts on Sunday – reside on Sky Sports activities – with the Frenchman taking up from interim boss Martin O’Neill on Thursday.
That’s the first of three key fixtures inside his first week as Hoops boss, with Celtic then internet hosting Roma within the Europa League subsequent Thursday, earlier than taking up St Mirren within the League Cup closing at Hampden Park subsequent Sunday.
Sunday seventh December 2:30pm
Kick off 3:00pm
Nancy, who shall be joined by his No 2 and former Arsenal youth boss Kwame Ampadu in Glasgow, stated: “I’m so comfortable to be named Celtic supervisor. It’s a huge honour for myself and my household.
“Earlier than I say anything I wish to do one factor – I wish to thank the nice Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney for all they’ve carried out in current weeks with the workforce. The job they’ve carried out has been implausible … they’ve my whole respect and my whole gratitude. I hope to fulfill them each very quickly and thank them personally.
“Now its as much as me to hold on this nice work and carry our nice membership ahead and I can not wait to get going and change into a part of such a superb establishment. Celtic is among the world’s correct soccer golf equipment, actual ambiance and coronary heart and soul, actual excessive requirements and actual calls for, which I’m prepared for.
“I know the history, I know the values of Celtic and I know what is expected of me on this journey. I know what Celtic means to so many people and my No 1 aim will be simple – to give our fans a strong, exciting, attacking, winning football team they can be so proud of.”
Celtic chief Peter Lawwell stated Nancy was “a manager with a record which demonstrates the kind of football which we know Celtic supporters love to see.”
He added: “I want to express our sincere thanks to Martin, Shaun and our backroom team for all they have done in recent weeks during this interim period. They have done such a tremendous job in stabilising the team and restoring a real level of confidence, with some fantastic results domestically and in Europe.”
Why Celtic needed Nancy
Nancy guided Columbus Crew to seventh within the MLS Japanese Convention final season
Celtic see many similarities between Nancy and Ange Postecoglou, who left the membership in 2023 to take over at Tottenham Hotspur.
The Frenchman was really useful 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
Nevertheless, Nancy is youthful than Postecoglou and has already gained silverware in America and Canada.
Previous to his transfer to Glasgow, he gained the Canadian Championship throughout his solely season at CF Montreal, and helped Columbus Crew clinch the MLS Cup and Leagues Cup. He additionally guided Crew to the CONCACAF Champions Cup closing throughout his three years within the US.
His influence has been recognised with not solely membership honours but in addition private ones, after being named MLS Coach of the 12 months in 2024.
In simply 4 years of administration, Nancy has achieved success and Celtic really feel he could make that subsequent step into European soccer.
What can Celtic followers anticipate?
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
MLS knowledgeable Tom Bogert assesses Wilfried Nancy’s influence within the MLS and tells Celtic followers what they’ll anticipate from a ‘defining supervisor’
“Wilfried Nancy is one of the defining managers of the last half-decade in Major League Soccer.”
A daring assertion, however MLS knowledgeable Tom Bogert is in little doubt in regards to 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 play 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 Montréal after which Columbus, nearly 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.”
Sutton: Nancy should hit the bottom operating after O’Neill’s masterclass
Since taking up 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 number of video games and issues went badly, folks 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 essentially put the stress on him as a result of all people will anticipate Wilfried Nancy to come back in with the workforce, which appears to be extra assured, and hit the bottom operating.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
Sky Sports activities’ Chris Sutton on the job carried out 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 outwardly 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 – reside 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 – reside on Sky Sports activities
- Aberdeen (H) – Scottish Premiership – December 21
