Celtic FC in Talks with Columbus Crew for Wilfried Nancy
Celtic FC is reportedly in discussions with Columbus Crew about potentially appointing Wilfried Nancy as their next head coach, as confirmed by a source to ESPN. The dialogue regarding Nancy’s move to the Scottish Premiership has been ongoing for several weeks. With Celtic now having initiated official communication with the Crew, the process is said to be progressing towards finalizing the agreement that would see Nancy take the managerial helm at Celtic Park.
Negotiations and Current Situation
There are active negotiations concerning the potential inclusion of Nancy’s coaching staff in Glasgow. The Scottish champions have been without a permanent manager since October 27, when Brendan Rogers resigned amidst a rocky beginning to the current season. Since then, Martin O’Neill has taken over on an interim basis.
Nancy’s Tenure and Achievements
Over the past few years, the Crew had engaged in discussions with Nancy about extending his contract, which is currently set to run until 2026, and making him the highest-paid manager in Major League Soccer (MLS). However, Nancy opted not to pursue a longer-term agreement, expressing his ambitions to manage in a European league.
Should the deal with Celtic be finalized, it would mark the conclusion of a highly productive three-year tenure for Nancy in Columbus. During his leadership, the Crew secured the MLS Cup in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024, achievements that led to him being named MLS Coach of the Year following the latter triumph. Notably, under Nancy’s guidance, the Crew adopted a compelling and possession-focused style of play, even while operating with a salary budget that ranked just below the top third in the league in 2025.
Previous Experience
Prior to his time in Columbus, Nancy enjoyed a successful period with CF Montréal from 2021 to 2022, which included winning the Canadian Championship in 2021. His promotion to head coach followed the unexpected resignation of former player Thierry Henry. Nancy had previously spent a decade at Montreal, where he first coached in the academy and later served as an assistant coach. He ultimately parted ways with the club in December 2022 after an altercation with owner Joey Saputo over team direction.
Playing Career
Nancy’s playing career was modest, starting in the fourth tier with Toulon and later making appearances for several lower-league clubs such as Beaucairois, Raon-l’Etape, Ivry, Noisy-le-Sec, Chatellerault, and Orleans.
