IT CREPT in with the merest whisper and went out with an almighty roar.
Celtic’s 2025/26 campaign will go down in the Hoops’ Hall of Fame as one of the most extraordinary in the club’s proud history.
Written off and dismissed, the Parkhead men simply refused to roll over – and completed an unforgettable crusade with a league and Cup double.
CQN continue our EXCLUSIVE series as we tell the tale of how Martin O’Neill, who twice answered SOS calls from his old club, manoeuvred Celtic through a minefield to achieve the impossible dream of a fifth successive title.
Please enjoy!
HEADING FOR THE EXIT…Wilfried Nancy leaves the touchline immediately after the final whistle that signalled a miserable 3-1 derby defeat at Parkhead on January 3.
JANUARY 2026
THE New Year was a mere five days old when Wilfried Nancy was dramatically sacked as Celtic manager.
There was no hiding place for the clueless Frenchman after the champions had snatched defeat from the jaws of victory in the 3-1 derby defeat at Parkhead two days earlier.
The Hoops had led 1-0 at the interval and looked in control as Danny Rohl’s Ibrox side toiled to stem the tide. Yang Hyun-jun completed a mesmerising solo run with an explosive drive high into the roof of Jack Butland’s net to get the ball rolling in the 20th minute.
Auston Trusty and Johnny Kenny missed opportunities before the roof fell in on the hosts after the turnaround.
Youssef Chermiti was practically invited by a dithering defence to claim a double while Kasper Schmeichel gift-wrapped the third goal when he misjudged a low shot from Mikey Moore. In his heyday the Danish legend would have stopped that in his sleep.
At the final whistle, Nancy, head bowed and shoulders slumped, looked a figure of utter dejection as he walked down the tunnel and to the sanctuary of the dressing room.
It was clear the Celtic board could waste no time on making a big decision before the season disintegrated into oblivion.
THE FACE OF DEFEAT…Wilfried Nancy after his sixth loss in eight games.
Pressed on speculation surrounding his future immediately after the derby, Nancy said: “Yes, I can understand that. This is part of my job.
“For me, nothing changes. My focus is to help my players to be better, to help my team and staff to be better and to find a way to turn things around.
“We are really close to doing good things, but when we concede goals sometimes, this is difficult.
“I want to win games. We all want to win games. But this is the reality for the moment. But I see many, many good things.
“That’s why the frustration is here, because we deserve better. And we have to stay together and everything’s going to move forward.
“Keep working, keep doing what we want to do.
“And things will work out for us.”
Not exactly prophetic words from the dithering and beleaguered team boss.
Two days later, the axe fell on the 48-year-old Frenchman after his position at the club had been viewed as untenable.
Nancy’s four weeks are the shortest tenure of any permanent boss in the club’s history.
Three of his assistants were also fired and Head of Football Operations Paul Tisdale, the man behind the appointment, also headed for the exit.
THAT SINKING FEELING…Wilfried Nancy suffers another defeat.
The Parkhead powerbrokers made the dramatic decision in the aftermath of a sixth loss, clearly an unacceptable sequence for any club who had a desire for continued success.
The champions had the opportunity to go top of the Premiership when they played Hearts in Nancy’s debut, but, during his dismal tenure, the Hoops dropped TWELVE points, blew a Cup Final against St Mirren and were soundly thrashed in the Europa League by AS Roma in front of their own bemused support.
A club statement read: “Celtic Football Club today announces that it has decided to terminate the contract of manager Wilfried Nancy, with immediate effect. The Club thanks Wilfried for his efforts and wishes him and his family well for the future.
“Wilfried’s assistants, Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen, and Maxime Chalier, will also be leaving the club and they take with them our good wishes.
“The Club can also confirm that Paul Tisdale has left his position as Head of Football Operations. We thank Paul for the contribution he has made in that role.
“A further update will be provided to supporters as soon as is practical.”
Once again the distress flares were sent to Martin O’Neill and, thankfully, for a second time the genial Irishman responded to the challenge.
BACK IN THE OLD ROUTINE…Martin O’Neill on the Parkhead touchline.
A week after the derby debacle, the veteran coach was kitted out in his favoured tracksuit and was patrolling the touchline as the Hoops came out of their tailspin to beat Dundee United fairly comprehensively with Yang, Arne Engels, Benjamin Nygren and Daizen Maeda sharing the goals.
It was like O’Neill had never been away.
A solitary headed effort from Nygren following a wicked inswinging left-wing corner-kick delivery from Engels made certain of the points at Falkirk while the players never had to extend themselves against gallant Auchinleck Talbot at Rugby Park as they won 2-0 to get their Scottish Cup adventure up and running.
Celtic drew their next two encounters 2-2 and, coincidentally, finished both games with 10 men.
In the Europa League game in Bologna, Reo Hatate scored the opening goal in the fifth minute before picking up two bookings to see red in the 34th minute. Auston Trusty gave the visitors an unlikely 2-0 interval lead, but the Serie outfit battled back to stick two past Schmeichel to gain a point.
Three days later, Trusty was dismissed in the stalemate with Hearts at Tynecastle after a ludicrous VAR intervention following a coming-together with Landry Kabore. Referee Steven McLean booked the defender, but was invited to review the incident and returned to the pitch to wave a red card and the astonished USA international.
The visitors were leading 2-1 at the time and looking reasonably comfortable, but dropped two points when Claudio Braga levelled in 87th minute.
LET’S HEAR IT FOR THE BHOY…Benjamin Nygren celebrates his free-kick goal against Hearts at Tynecastle on January 25.
Benjamin Nygren had given the Hoops the lead with a peach of a direct free-kick that flew high past ex-Celtic keeper Craig Gordon. That was nullified when the defence failed lamentably to deal with a left-wing corner-kick and Stuart Findlay was allowed to direct a back post header beyond the unprotected Schmeichel.
The deadlock kept Derek McInnes’ leaders six points ahead of the champions.
The curtain came down on an eventful month as the Hoops overcame Dutch side Utrecht 4-2 at Parkhead to seal a place in the Europa League play-off.
After six losses in eight games under Nancy, O’Neill guided the team to four wins and two draws in six outings.
Celtic fans could breathe more easily again.
RESULTS
January 3:
Premiership:
CELTIC 1 Rangers 3
Yang
January 10:
Premiership:
CELTIC 4 Dundee United 0
Yang, Engels, Nygren, Maeda
January 14:
Premiership:
Falkirk 0 CELTIC 1
Nygren
January 18:
Scottish Cup: Fourth Round
Auchinleck Talbot 0 CELTIC 2
Kenny, Tounekti
January 22:
Europa League:
Bologna 2 CELTIC 2
Hatate, Trusty
January 25:
Premiership:
Hearts 2 CELTIC 2
Nygren, Yang
January 29:
Europa League:
CELTIC 4 Utrecht 2
Nygren, Viergever (og), Engels (pen), Trusty
* TOMORROW: Don’t miss Part Seven of The Impossible Dream – only in your champion CQN.
