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<img alt="Celtic has officially appointed Wilfried Nancy from Columbus Crew"
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<p><span>©IMAGO</span></p>
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<p>Wilfried Nancy has officially been named the new manager of Celtic FC. This announcement, first covered by Transfermarkt and the Daily Record in mid-November, was confirmed on Wednesday. The French-Canadian coach is making the move from Columbus Crew.</p>
<p>Last month, the 48-year-old declined to comment on the speculation surrounding his potential appointment. "I'm not here to talk about myself,” Nancy stated during an end-of-season press session with Columbus. “I'm here to discuss the team, and I have no comment on any rumors."
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<p>Behind the scenes, discussions between Nancy and Celtic were already in progress. Celtic chairman Dermot Desmond had been making a concerted effort to secure Nancy's signature from the MLS club for weeks, and the agreement has now been finalized. "I am extremely honored to be named the Celtic Manager. It means a great deal to me and my family," Nancy expressed in a club statement. "It is now my responsibility to build upon the excellent work already done and propel this prestigious club forward. I’m eager to get started and to be part of such a remarkable institution. Celtic is one of the world’s true football clubs, filled with passion and high expectations, and I am prepared for that challenge. I respect Celtic's history and values, and I understand the significance the club holds for its supporters. My primary objective is simple: to deliver a strong, exciting, attacking football style that makes our fans proud."
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<p>Nancy takes over from Brendan Rodgers, who departed the club in late October following a defeat against league leaders Hearts. Under interim manager Martin O’Neill, Celtic secured victories in both Scottish Premiership matches and the Scottish Cup, although they did face a loss in the Europa League to Danish team Midtjylland (3-1). With O’Neill at the helm, Celtic has reduced the gap to the top of the table to just two points, with one game in hand. Nancy took the time to acknowledge the interim manager's contributions. "First and foremost, I want to extend my gratitude to the great Martin O'Neill and Shaun Maloney for their tremendous work with the team in recent weeks. Their contributions have been outstanding."
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<h2>Who is Wilfried Nancy? – Described as the “Most Talented MLS Coach in a Generation”</h2>
<p>What can Celtic fans anticipate from Nancy? To gain further insights, we spoke to our North American Area Manager, Manuel Veth. "Wilfried Nancy is arguably the most talented MLS coach in a generation," Veth remarked. "Initially an average player, Nancy moved to Canada two decades ago to work in university soccer in Quebec. He gradually climbed the ranks, joining the Montréal academy in 2011 and eventually becoming the club's head coach in 2021 after Thierry Henry's departure. That season, he led Montréal to a Canadian Championship title, and the following year, he finished second in the Eastern Conference."
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<p>Though the results were impressive, it was the style of football that truly distinguished Nancy in the MLS. “Nancy implemented the kind of playing style that Henry always advocated,” Veth noted. “His tactics were progressive, aggressive, and sound, which is a rarity in the league. Most importantly, he earned the respect and admiration of players in Montréal. He was effectively the last coach to truly connect with that club. After the 2022 season, Nancy left because he felt unsupported by the influential Saputo family, who own both Montréal and Serie A's Bologna."
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<p>Following his departure from Montréal, Nancy joined the Columbus Crew. With them, he secured the MLS Cup in 2023, won the Leagues Cup in 2024, and reached the final of the Concacaf Champions Cup in 2024, averaging 1.8 points per game over 136 matches across all competitions. "While a 1.8 points-per-game average might not seem remarkable at first glance, in a salary cap-driven league filled with parity, it's truly exceptional,” Veth explained. “Primarily utilizing a 3-4-2-1 formation, the Crew play an attractive style. Nancy not only loves good football, but he also gets his players to fully embrace the system. He has an ability to elevate his teams beyond the individual talent level. Much of his success stems from his background in university soccer, as he excels at teaching and effectively communicating his vision to make all his players better every day."
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