Celtic announce new manager moments before Martin O’Neill’s last match in charge

Celtic have announced the appointment of Wilfried Nancy as the club’s new manager.

Nancy will begin his tenure on Thursday having signed a two-and-a-half year contract.

Getty

The 48-year-old Frenchman will replace interim boss Martin O’Neill after his move from MLS side Columbus Crew was confirmed.

The announcement was made moments before O’Neill’s final act as stand-in manager in Wednesday night’s Scottish Premiership match at home to Dundee.

O’Neill was sworn in to oversee first-team duties at the end of October following the exit of Brendan Rodgers.

Nancy’s first game in charge will be the top-of-the-table clash meeting with Hearts at Celtic Park on Sunday.

He then faces his first ever European tie as a manager when Celtic welcome Serie A giants Roma to Glasgow next Thursday.

Following that, he can claim his first piece of silverware when Celtic take on St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup final.

Chomping at the bit

“I can’t wait to get going and become part of such a brilliant institution,” Nancy said.

“Celtic is one of the world’s proper football clubs, real atmosphere and heart and soul, real high standards and real demands, which I am ready for. I know the history, I know the values of Celtic and I know what is expected of me on this journey.

“I know what Celtic means to so many people and my No. 1 aim will be simple – to give our fans a strong, exciting, attacking, winning football team they can be so proud of.

“I want to thank the great Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney for all they have done in recent weeks with the team,” Nancy added.

Win The Ultimate talkSPORT Darts Experience

Up for grabs here are tickets to the PDC World Darts Championship.

Not only that, there is the chance to win exclusive access to the talkSPORT Darts Trophy on Wednesday 10 December, which sees presenters take on one another.

But the big prize is there are two tickets to the opening day of the PDC World Darts Championship on Thursday 11 December, plus two nights’ accommodation in London AND £2,500 cash!

“These guys have given so much to the club across so many years and I know our fans, like me, all recognise the brilliant job they have done.

“They have my total respect and my total gratitude. I hope to meet them both very soon and thank them personally.”

Who is Nancy?

A defender during his playing days, Nancy carved out a career in the lower reaches of French football with various amateur and semi-professional clubs

After retiring in 2005, Nancy moved to Canada to take up coaching.

Getty

He succeeded Thierry Henry in 2021 as boss of Montreal and led them to the Canadian title in his first season.

His heroics earned him a move to Columbus Crew in 2022 where he steered his new side to the MLS Cup and the Leagues Cup a year later.

He also scooped the MLS Coach of the Year award for his efforts.

His final season in Ohio did not end the way he would have liked with Columbus finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference and 12th overall in the standings.

The move to Celtic is his first managerial job in Europe.

The right choice

“He is a manager with a record which demonstrates the kind of football which we know Celtic supporters love to see,” said Celtic chairman Peter Lawwell

“I want to express our sincere thanks to Martin, Shaun and our backroom team. They have done such a tremendous job in stabilising the team and restoring a real level of confidence, with some fantastic results domestically and in Europe.”

Getty

Meanwhile, Celtic’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond added: “In appointing Wilfried to Celtic, we believe we have brought a hugely talented Manager to the club.

“He is a man who absolutely understands the demands at Celtic, he is a man of real humility but also someone with his own ideas, his own vision and such a personal drive and desire to do well for the club and our supporters.

“Everyone at the club will unite strongly behind Wilfried as we move forward and we will ensure we will give him our unswerving support as we strive to achieve our objectives.”