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Wilfried Nancy leaves Columbus Crew to take charge of Scottish giant Celtic

Wilfried Nancy leaves Columbus Crew to take charge of Scottish giant Celtic | iNFOnews.ca
FILE - Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy calls out to his players from the sideline during the first half of an MLS soccer match against Inter Miami, Saturday, May 31, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

GLASGOW, Scotland (AP) — Former CF Montréal coach Wilfried Nancy left his role with the Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer to take charge of Scottish giant Celtic on Wednesday.

The 48-year-old Frenchman coached Crew for three years, leading the team to the MLS Cup and the Leagues Cup and being named coach of the year in MLS in 2024.

Celtic is defending its title in the Scottish Premiership and, after a slow start to the season, is in second place — two points behind Hearts.

The team has won the last four top-flight titles and is on 55 overall, the same as fierce Glasgow rival Rangers.

Nancy described Celtic as “one of the world’s proper football clubs” because of its “real atmosphere and heart and soul, real high standards and real demands, which I am ready for.”

“I know the history, I know the values of Celtic and I know what is expected of me on this journey,” he said. “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.”

Born in Le Havre, France, Nancy played as a defender in various French leagues before moving into coaching. He worked in the Montreal Impact Academy before being promoted to first-team assistant coach in 2016.

After Thierry Henry’s resignation in 2021, Nancy was named head coach of CF Montréal. He set a club record with 20 wins — including 11 on the road — in 2022 before leaving to take over the Crew.

Nancy will begin his tenure on Thursday.

Since the departure of Brendan Rodgers on Oct. 27, Martin O’Neill has been in temporary charge of the team.

Celtic principal shareholder Dermot Desmond said O’Neill had done a “wonderful job” to “bring us through these last few weeks positively.”

“I will always hold Martin in such high regard for what he has done for Celtic and for what he is as a man — a man of such professionalism and integrity and someone who undoubtedly will always have the best interests of Celtic in his heart.”

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