ATLANTA, GA - SEPTEMBER 13: Columbus head coach Wilfried Nancy reacts during the MLS match between Columbus Crew and Atlanta United FC on September 13th, 2025 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. (Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Columbus Crew have announced that three members of their coaching staff are joining Wilfried Nancy at Celtic.
Surprisingly when Celtic announced the appointment of their new manager there was no comment on any other staff members.
COACHING HANDOVER?
Gavin Strachan and Stevie Woods remained after the resignation of Brendan Rodgers. Shaun Maloney and Stephen McManus were redeployed to first team duties with Mark Fotheringham brought in to assist Martin O’Neill.
With less than three days until a top of the table clash with Hearts there is a need for continuity. Nancy is Celtic’s first mid-season permanent change of manager since Lou Macrai in 1993.
While Celtic were silent on the issue the Columbus Crew website announced:
The Columbus Crew announced today that the Club has reached an agreement with Celtic F.C. for Wilfried Nancy to become the Scottish Premiership side’s manager for an undisclosed fee, given the Black & Gold had an active contract with Nancy.
As part of the deal, assistant coach Kwame Ampadu, assistant coach and fitness coach Jules Gueguen and video performance coach Maxime Chalier, who were also under contract with Columbus, will join Nancy in Glasgow.
It is unclear whether Celtic will host a media conference to introduce Nancy to supporters. There could be some interviews released on Celtic TV.
PUNISHING FIXTURE SCHEDULE
The players will report to Lennoxtown but with 10 of them starting three matches over a seven day span it is unlikely that there will be much time spent on the training pitch.
Over his first eight days in charge Nancy faces matches against Hearts, Roma and St Mirren.
There are two matches a week through until January 3, after that Nancy gets a full week to prepare for the match at home to Dundee United.
That schedule is bound to test Nancy, especially with the Celtic squad being stretched tightly.
Last night Marcelo Saracchi was substituted during the first half with what appeared to be a repeat of his hamstring injury.
The on loan defender suffered a hamstring pull against Kilmarnock on November 9 but came off the bench in last week’s win over Feyenoord.
Goalscorer Daizen Maeda suffered a nasty cheek injury and reappeared wearing ahead bandage after his 11th minute header earned Celtic full points.
Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Jota and Callum Osmand are out of action long term. There has been no recent updates on the injuries to James Forrest and Kelechi Iheanacho.
Has to be a press confrence to introduce the new coach and his new people or is the board keeping supporters arms length there is a fraction of supporters indispute with board a fraction there still another 45,000 or more go to games the rest who cant go for other reasons cant get ticket,not fit, or staying abroad you need to be more open to Celtic supporters yes anurchists are trying to attach themselves to Celtic you can stop it or ignore but you cant let them use our great name and media base to use Celtic for there politicle protest they are not many but well organized they have already forced a young International player from our club that we are proud to say a club for all Celtic arent there love its the media following there after
The whole thing is sketchy sketchy for sure…
Typical Celtic Board of course…
I’d have kept Martin until after the cup final personally !
My biggest worry is that he will NOT demand full control of all Transfers IN & OUT. Expect he will be given a minimal budget + Maybe 30-50% of Sales to “Improve” the side.
A very difficult baptism of early fixtures so he needs to hit the ground running.
Club is taking a very big risk in this appointment which hopefully will pay dividends which is we had done our preparations properly was not necessary, I wish him every success
Expect to see a reduction in hammies with the fitness coach plus a much faster mid and back 4. Hatate wont know what hits him.
Will the media give Nancy a free pass on every game until January like Rohl is getting ?