Celtic have parted company with manager Wilfried Nancy after a disastrous 33 days in charge, making his tenure the shortest in the club’s history. The French coach oversaw just eight games, suffering six defeats, including Saturday’s 3-1 loss to Rangers.
Nancy, 48, signed a two-and-a-half-year contract with the Scottish champions after concluding the Major League Soccer season with Columbus Crew, taking charge on 4 December. Expectations were high after interim manager Martin O’Neill had won seven of eight matches, but Nancy’s arrival coincided with a dramatic slump in form.
The Frenchman lost his first two games in charge—a first in Celtic’s history—before a 3-1 defeat to St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final and a 2-1 reverse at Dundee United. This four-game losing streak mirrored a poor run last seen under Celtic legend Jock Stein in 1978.
Celtic briefly stopped the rot with consecutive league victories over Aberdeen and Livingston. However, defeats at Motherwell (2-0) and the dismal second-half collapse at home to Rangers confirmed Nancy’s struggles, and the club moved swiftly to terminate his contract.
Nancy leaves alongside his coaching staff—Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen, and Maxime Chalier. Celtic have also removed Paul Tisdale from his position as head of football operations, a role he had held since October 2024. A club statement confirmed the exits and promised further updates for supporters.
Under Nancy, Celtic shipped 18 goals in eight games, surpassing the total conceded in the opening 24 games of the season prior to his arrival. Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton described Nancy’s tactics as “kamikaze stuff,” criticizing the Frenchman’s insistence on a 3-4-3 system without adapting to the squad’s strengths. “He needed to adapt. Celtic have played with a back four for as long as I can remember, and he came in halfway through the season, with a squad that, in truth, is pretty incapable, and trashed the team,” Sutton said.
Celtic, who have won 13 of the past 14 Scottish Premiership titles, currently sit second in the league, six points behind Hearts but ahead of Rangers on goals scored. Their points total of 38 from 20 games is 15 fewer than at the same stage last season, highlighting the dramatic drop in form under Nancy.
Nancy’s coaching career had previously been successful in North America. He led Montreal in MLS before taking Columbus Crew to the MLS Cup in 2023, followed by victory in the Leagues Cup, a tournament featuring Mexican and American clubs. Named MLS Manager of the Year for 2024, Nancy’s fortunes took a downturn as Columbus finished seventh in the Eastern Conference and 12th overall last season.
Despite his North American success, Nancy’s record in his latest 20 games across all competitions showed just five wins, underlining his struggles to replicate previous achievements. His short stint at Celtic eclipses the tenure of former manager John Barnes, who served as the club’s shortest-serving permanent manager in modern times, overseeing 29 matches from June 1999 to February 2000.
Martin O’Neill, who previously managed Celtic from 2000-2005, had stepped in temporarily after Brendan Rodgers resigned in October to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah. The club now faces a critical period as it searches for a permanent replacement to steady a squad that has struggled amid managerial instability.
The early exit of Nancy is a reminder of the high expectations at Celtic, where instant results are demanded and patience is limited. As the club looks to rebuild momentum in the league, supporters will be hoping that the next appointment can restore the stability and winning form that has defined Celtic over the past decade and more.
