With a UK work permit attained and (I presume) Uefa coaching badges secured, Wilfried Nancy yesterday became the 20th permanent manager in Celtic’s history. The 48-year-old has four years managerial experience in Major League Soccer with CF Montreal and Columbus Crew.
In his first season, he won the Canadian Championship. The following year, he took Montreal to the CONCACAF Champions League quarter final, where they lost to Mexican side Cruz Azul. An interesting insight into his character revealed that year, when Wilfried got into a spat with the owner of Montreal after a bad defeat. Nancy asked to be relieved from his contract with immediate effect, but was talked into staying until the end of the season.
Three years ago this Friday Columbus Crew bought out his Montreal contract and brought Wilfried to Ohio as their new head coach. In his first season at Columbus he won the MLS Cup and in 2024 he won the Leagues Cup. He also got to the Champions League Final that term and won the MLS Coach of the Year award. The season which ended last month was less successful, with Columbus finishing the MLS in 7th place.
The strength of character he so publicly displayed at Montreal will be an asset in Glasgow; this is not a city which rewards meekness in its football employees. His core talent is that of a tactician, with his favoured style regarded as attacking (which also known as risky).
I watched last night’s performance through the prism of what the new manager would make of his players. Auston Trusty broke through the lines and was regularly found on the wings in an attacking position; consistent with how Nancy setup at Columbus.
That aside, watching last night’s performance, Wilfried will have a good idea why the job became available. Celtic moved to joint top of the table last night, rescued from aimlessness by an heroic effort from Martin O’Neill, but I am sure the message was made clear to him at interview, this is Celtic at the bottom of the curve. The team needs to be rebuilt in 2026.
The immediate task is to deal with Hearts on Sunday. Hearts maybe in a rut, but they are better than Dundee, Sunday will be a challenge. To those who would prefer Wilfried’s competitive introduction was against lesser opponents, need I remind you of Lincoln Red Imps, or Artmedia Bratislava?
My finger in the air reading of the reaction to the appointment is that some people have learned from their deranged response to the appointment of Ange Postecoglou in 2021. That day’s comments on CQN are worth a revisit. Wilfried is an unknown quantity in European football, his merits were earned in an environment often overlooked. At 48, he is seven years younger than Ange when he arrived from Japan and transformed the club. The parallels are not perfect, but they are bound to have given Celtic some comfort that appointing a middle aged coach who is not on the UK/European circuit can offer a greater return.
Brother Walfried takes over from the Blessed Martin. Martin O’Neill answered the call with Celtic in a tailspin having lost their previous two Premiership games. In his short time, he collected 15 points from five league games, won a League Cup semifinal and beat Feyenoord at De Kuip, the only reversal at Midtjylland.
That is a remarkable return for a remarkable football manager and man. His charm has been inspiring and his considerable legacy enhanced. Who thought that possible?
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Hello there ya old duffers.
Big Jimmy re: wee swally
When I am over next year I am coming to your hoose!
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AN DÚN re: having fun
I am going to miss hearIng the MON song being sung.
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Enjoyed reading back last night.
Thanks all. Cheers for posting that article DENIABHOY.
Off maybe more concern that the inexperienced manager is our transfer business.
One summer signing started MoN’s last two league games.
£10 million of left wing acquisitions are behind Yang.
That will need to improve considerably.
Bonne chance Wilfried.
Like Martin, they’ll be hoping you fail.
Like Martin, prove them wrong 👍
Utter pish. No wonder this blog is quiet these days.
Celtic fans want Celtic to lose. 🤡
☝️
Assume you are talking about non Celtic supporters media etc?
In which case who GAF?
The main problem for Wilfried will be whether the board want him to succeed.
MoN saying farewell to the players in the dressing room:
https://x.com/CelticFC/status/1996539403011797295?t=ZlK0WgUMLsS0iCdV-vuRvQ&s=09
Thanks for that Denia.
Welcome Wilfried and all the very best
Welcome to the mighty Glasgow Celtic, Wilfried Nancy. Strap yersel in. 😁👍
The legendary guitarist Frank Zappa passed away on this day in 1993. Overnite Sensation! 👍
🗣 | 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗙𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴𝗵𝗮𝗺 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴: 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝗻𝗱 𝗼𝗳 𝗮𝗻 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁-𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺 𝗰𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰, 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗿 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗢’𝗡𝗲𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝘁 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘂𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆. 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄 𝗯𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗮𝘁 𝗖𝗲𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗰. 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗶𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗦𝗵𝗮𝘂𝗻 𝗮𝘀𝗸𝗲𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝘁𝗼 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗺 𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗱?
“It was really interesting. I received a call around 11.30 at night from Shaun. You could hear the adrenaline in his voice. He simply said, ‘Foz, can you be at Lennoxtown at the drop of a hat?’
“For me, it was an easy decision. I told him I would be there the next morning. I did not ask any questions because I knew he had a lot going on.
“When I arrived at Lennoxtown, Shaun explained that he and the gaffer would be working together during this interim period and that I would be joining them. It was an incredible feeling to return and to work again with the gaffer and with Shaun, someone who means a great deal to me.
“People know our story. Old photos have been shared many times. We came through the academy together and lived in a house in Barrhead with Irene and Vinnie McCann, who looked after us like family. We would take the train from Barrhead to Glasgow Central, then the bus to Bridgeton, then run as fast as we could to avoid any Rangers supporters before getting up to Celtic Park [laughs].
“We helped John Clarke and wee Angie with the kit and were around the first team very early. After cleaning the kit in the afternoon, we would play a quick game of snooker and then head back to Barrhead for dinner with Irene and Vinnie. They told us everything that was happening at Celtic and supported us as if we were their own.
“That was where we learned what it truly meant to be part of Celtic and the expectations that come with wearing that badge. Returning now to support the gaffer and contribute to the run we have been on has meant a great deal.
“It has been a special feeling because Celtic means everything to us.”
Agus, Fáilte romhait Wilifried.
Your destiny awaits…..
MR- Just read full interview there’s could do much worse than keeping him involved, he knows football and knows the Club
On last nights game, we played some top class football in parts.
Other times we struggled to set up goal chances.
For the amount of possession we had 1-0 is not a great return.
Lack of investment is certainly showing through.
Luke McCowan is not a left winger, at least not at Celtics standards.
Delighted to see Engles improvement under Martin.
Looking forward to seeing Wilfried’s style of football.
Roll on Sunday.
Welcome Wilfried – to the greatest football club in the world.
The Auld Alliance CSC
Aipple on 4th December 2025 12:01 pm
Big Jimmy re: wee swally
When I am over next year I am coming to your hoose!
……………
Sorry, but I do not like to drink in the hoose, but I will be more than happy to buy the drinks in the Boozer.
Ive never been a fan of Hoose drinking.
HH Mate.
the Bada Bing on 4th December 2025 1:04 pm
MR- Just read full interview there’s could do much worse than keeping him involved, he knows football and knows the Club.
Me too. Love the piece about Bridgeton 😅
Welcome and good luck Wilifried
Big Jimmy
We’ll take you in a charabanc to the Brazen. 👍😁
Can’t block out my concerns about Wilfried.
I sincerely hope it’s a blast of an appointment and he has similar impact to Ange but something about this just doesn’t seem quite right.
Even the unveiling, if you could call it that, was kinda uninspiring – is he and his team even here yet? Are they at Lennoxtown today?
His record is good but short and the pressure is at 200% on day one and I get the feeling WE are not prepared for a big change like this. MON has a special talent for relating to and motivating players but will Wilfried be able to have that same instant impact? He had better have if not the good work done in the last six weeks could quickly dissipate.
I caveat this by saying that all sorts of prep may have been going on behind the scenes for weeks – that would certainly be the smart, practical and professional way to make this change however hands up if you think that kind of thinking is likely to be beyond our board/exec 🖐️
Everything is crossed and will get all my support👍🏻🤞🤞
Welcome to Celtic Wilfried.
May your days with us be blessed and trophy laden.
TIMMY7_NOTED on 4TH DECEMBER 2025 12:35 PM
The main problem for Wilfried will be whether the board want him to succeed.
….
Hurt my neck shaking my head at this juvenile post.
Getagripcfc
He contradicts himself in the space of 2 posts 😁
Iheanacho has struggled with fitness for the best part of two years.
He’s come to Celtic and…he’s struggling for fitness.
post from previous , you could replace with KT.
MOISEY17
Even the unveiling, if you could call it that, was kinda uninspiring
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I’m assuming there’ll be a press conference and that we may even see and hear from our CEO.
I may be assuming too much though.
98th minute pen used to be awarded to get the 3 pts now it is awarded to salvage a draw.
Bienvenue Wilfried, best of luck mon frère
The Huddle.
If you don’t know the difference between those who pay to watch Celtic and those who take money from the club l cant help you.
PL said, “We will give Wilfried all our support as we look to once again bring success to our fans.”
MN said, “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.”
And DD said, “we will give him our unswerving support as we strive to achieve our objectives.”
I hope they ‘support’ WN better than they did BR.
And, IMHO, if MON had been here till the end of the season, he might have felt differently with that prile ‘supporting’ him.
A bold and imaginative appointment, maybe a sign of a more collaborative approach?
Hopefully his work will carry that on,
Celti40me.
Thats a bit of a stretch..
If interested
American sports guy on Talksport now talking about Monsieur Nancy
67 EUROPEAN CUP WINNERS on 4TH DECEMBER 2025 11:26 A
Lets go round again
After the non stop frustration of the summer transfer window
The anger at abandoning of our Manager
The near depression of our self inflicted demise
Followed by the joy of St Martin
We are 27 days away from the Click Bait Fest known as The January Transfer Window
If ever we needed a good Transfer Window this is surely up there as the most important
I am none the wiser as to what our process is for buying footballers
I hope somebody knows but my confidence is shot
Hey Ho – Lets go round again
67ECW
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Fingers crossed, can’t wait .
What we do know is whoever we sign at least they won’t be able to blame Brendan Rodgers, it’s all just Celtic signings from now on – isn’t it?
They are on their own now as the window opens, Wilfried won’t be to bothered about who he gets, that’s why they’ve picked him. He’s getting 2 1/2 years the clock is ticking, on developing punts, and diamonds from the midden for the buy low sell high ‘successful structure’
Smite a stinking Sevco our main business partner and ‘the jobs a good un’ I’ll even send the boy to the AGM to explain.
Meanwhile back at the ranch Dundee Utd are the next weekly Sevco victims and seekers of rule clarification from Kings Park.
Hail Hail
Nothing but +ve things to say about him.
Great developer of players.
Not afraid to drop players and stand up to owners etc.
When asked if he understood the pressures here guy’s re-KT was that although this career has been in the Stares and Canada he is European and will be fully aware of how football works here.
Re-KT?!
“Reply”
Good to hear Paul67 on great form on BBC Radio Scotland.
Who knew CQN was still considered so influential?