Celtic announce Wilfried Nancy as their new manager
Last updated 3rd Dec 2025
Celtic have announced Wilfried Nancy as their new manager on a two-and-a-half year contract.
The 48-year-old succeeds Brendan Rodgers, who resigned in October.
Former boss Martin O'Neill had been in interim charge for the past month.
Nancy leaves Major League Soccer team Columbus Crew, with the two clubs having agreed a compensation package.
The Frenchman has won the MLS Cup and Leagues Cup with the Crew, as well as being named MLS Coach of the Year.
He also took the side to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final in 2024.
Nancy previously managed CF Montreal, which was his first managerial job.
He had a semi-professional playing career in his native France as a defender but has been based in North America for the best part of two decades.
Nancy told the Celtic website: “I am so happy to be named Celtic Manager, it is a massive honour for myself and my family.
“Before I say anything else I want to do one thing – I want to thank the great Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney for all they have done in recent weeks with the team. The job they have done has been fantastic.
"These guys have given so much to the club across so many years and I know our fans, like me, all recognise the brilliant job they have done during this recent period. They have my total respect and my total gratitude. I hope to meet them both very soon and thank them personally.
“Now its up to me to carry on this great work and carry our great club forward and I can’t wait to get going and become part of such a brilliant institution. Celtic is one of the world’s proper football clubs, 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. 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.
“I look forward to seeing all our fans very soon and I hope we can enjoy some great moments together.”
Chairman Peter Lawwell said: “We are really pleased to welcome Wilfried to Celtic. He is a Manager with a record which demonstrates the kind of football which we know Celtic supporters love to see. We will give Wilfried all our support as we look to once again bring success to our fans.
“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.
“Martin has shown the kind of leadership he was always renowned for and together with Shaun and the others in our backroom team they have given us that level of quality which has been so important to us in recent weeks. Everyone at the club offers our appreciation for the job they have done.”
Chief Executive Michael Nicholson added: “We have been aware of Wilfried and his quality of work for some time - he was our number one candidate when we began the process of appointing a new Manager and we are delighted that he as agreed to join the club.
“I know he is hugely excited about this opportunity to be part of Celtic’s future. We will give Wilfried every support to face the challenges ahead, with our aim as always being to deliver the success for the club which our supporters deserve, this season and beyond.
Celtic’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond added: “In appointing Wilfried to Celtic, we believe we have brought a hugely talented Manager to the club. He is a man who absolutely understands the demands at Celtic, he is a man of real humility but also someone with his own ideas, his own vision and such a personal drive and desire to do well for the club and our supporters.
“Everyone at the club will unite strongly behind Wilfried as we move forward and we will ensure we will give him our unswerving support as we strive to achieve our objectives.
Nancy has several on and off the field issues to address.
He will have to try and unite the club and the fanbase after recent widening divisions.
Last week's unprecedented AGM was abandoned when shareholders jeered comments by Ross Desmond, son of major shareholder Dermot, and following chants of "sack the board" by others in attendance.
Supporters are angered by a number of issues, including an early Champions League exit, an underwhelming transfer window, and a slower-than-usual start in the league, amongst other things.
Celtic trail league leaders Hearts by two points but do have a game in hand.
They play Dundee on Wednesday evening and face St Mirren in next month's Premier Sports Cup final.
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