Celtic FC Pursues Wilfried Nancy as Next Manager

Celtic FC has officially reached out to Columbus Crew concerning the potential appointment of Wilfried Nancy as their next manager, according to a source familiar with the matter, as reported by ESPN.

Nancy, 48, has been in discussions with Celtic for several weeks; however, the reigning Scottish champions had not made formal contact with the Crew until now. The two parties are reportedly working towards finalizing an agreement that is increasingly likely to see Nancy transition to the Scottish Premiership.

Ongoing discussions also involve which members of Nancy’s coaching staff may accompany him to Glasgow.

Celtic has been without a permanent manager since Brendan Rodgers resigned on October 27, following a challenging start to the season. Martin O’Neill has been serving as interim manager during this period.

The Crew has engaged in conversations with Nancy over the past few years regarding an extension of his contract, which currently runs through 2026. They even proposed making him the highest-paid manager in Major League Soccer (MLS). However, Nancy declined the offer, expressing his desire not to sign a long-term deal and stating his aspirations to manage abroad.

Should the arrangement with Celtic be finalized, it would mark the end of Nancy’s highly successful three-year tenure in Columbus, which included winning the MLS Cup in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024. After the latter victory, Nancy was honored as the MLS Coach of the Year.

In addition to this accolade, Nancy gained recognition for implementing an attractive, possession-based style of football, despite managing a team that, in 2025, ranked just outside the top third in terms of player salary expenditure.

Previously, Nancy enjoyed a successful spell as the manager of CF Montréal from 2021 to 2022, where he secured the Canadian Championship in 2021. He ascended to this position following the unexpected resignation of Thierry Henry and had spent a decade with the club, beginning as a coach in their academy before becoming an assistant in 2016. Nancy departed Montreal in December 2022 after a dispute with owner Joey Saputo.

In his playing career, Nancy had modest beginnings, starting with fourth-tier Toulon and later playing for several lower-league teams, including Beaucairois, Raon-l’Étape, Ivry, Noisy-le-Sec, Châtellerault, and Orleans.