Celtic has appointed Wilfried Nancy as their new head coach, bringing him in from the Columbus Crew after a search lasting over a month for a permanent replacement for Brendan Rodgers.
Nancy has signed a two-and-a-half year deal with the Scottish club and will officially start his role on Thursday.
Columbus confirmed that they reached an agreement with Celtic for Nancy’s transfer for an undisclosed fee and added that assistant coach Kwame Ampadu, fitness coach Jules Gueguen, and video performance coach Maxime Chalier will join him in Glasgow.
“I am thrilled to be appointed Celtic Manager; it is a tremendous honor for me and my family,” Nancy expressed in the club’s announcement.
“I understand the history, I appreciate the values of Celtic, and I know what is expected of me on this journey,” he continued. “I realize how much Celtic means to so many fans, and my top priority will be clear — to provide our supporters with a strong, exciting, attacking, and winning football team they can take pride in.”
Rodgers resigned on October 27 following a 3-1 defeat to Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts the day before. Martin O’Neill took over as interim manager, with Shaun Maloney assisting him.
Under O’Neill’s interim management, Celtic won all their domestic matches, including a 3-1 Scottish League Cup semifinal victory over Old Firm rivals Rangers, setting up a final against St. Mirren on December 14. The only defeat O’Neill faced was a 3-1 loss to Midtjylland in the Europa League.
O’Neill’s time as interim manager concluded with a 1-0 victory over Dundee, marking seven wins in eight matches.
“First, I want to express my gratitude to the great Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney for everything they have done with the team in recent weeks,” Nancy stated. “Their work has been exceptional.”
“Now, it’s my responsibility to continue this great work and advance our prestigious club, and I am eager to start and become a part of such a remarkable institution. Celtic is one of the world’s true football clubs, with a real atmosphere and heart, high standards, and significant expectations, which I am ready to meet.”
Celtic is currently trailing Hearts only on goal difference, and Nancy’s first match in charge will be at home against the league leaders on Sunday.
“We are excited to welcome Wilfried to Celtic,” said Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell. “He has a record that reflects the kind of football our supporters love to see, and we will support Wilfried in our quest to bring success back to our fans.”
– O’Neill appeals for Celtic unity following ‘sack the board’ chants
– Celtic bans Green Brigade fan group after reported assaults
– Brendan Rodgers labeled ‘divisive’, made ‘untrue’ comments – Celtic chairman
Columbus finished in seventh place in the MLS Eastern Conference this season, losing to rivals FC Cincinnati in the first round of the MLS playoffs. Nancy previously led the Crew to the 2023 MLS Cup title and the 2024 Leagues Cup.
The coach, who hails from Le Havre, received the MLS Coach of the Year award in 2024 and had a successful tenure at CF Montréal before his three years with the Crew.
“Wilfried has played a significant role in our club’s success over the past three seasons, and we are immensely grateful for his dedication to the Crew and Major League Soccer,” stated the Crew owners, including the Haslam, Johnson, and Edwards families.
“He led us to our third MLS Cup, our first Leagues Cup title, and a Concacaf Champions Cup Final. Most importantly, his leadership helped establish a culture of success that will have a lasting positive impact on our club. Although we tried to keep Wilfried in Columbus, he made it clear that coaching Celtic represents a vital next step in his career and personal journey, which we know will be ‘limitless.’
Information from ESPN’s Jeff Carlisle contributed to this report.