Celtic FC is set to hire Wilfried Nancy as manager after contacting the Columbus Crew for permission from the MLS club, multiple media outlets reported Monday.
The Crew’s head coach for the past three seasons, Nancy led Columbus to the MLS Cup championship in 2023 and was the league’s Coach of the Year in 2024.
Columbus reached a third straight playoff run in 2025 as seventh place in the Eastern Conference. FC Cincinnati eliminated Nancy’s team in the first round on November 8 by winning the rubber match of a best-of-three series.
After weeks of discussions between Celtic and Nancy, his transfer to the Scottish giant will materialize once an agreement is reached with the Crew.
Brendan Rodgers resigned as Celtic manager on October 27 after the Glasgow club – four-time reigning Scottish Premiership champions – lost consecutive matches to domestic opposition. Interim replacement Martin O’Neill oversaw three league wins and a 3-1 defeat to rivals Rangers in the Scottish League Cup semi-final.
First-placed Hearts hold a four-point lead over Celtic in the Scottish Premiership table.
Discussions continue over which crew assistants will join Nancy in Glasgow, according to ESPN.
Columbus offered to extend Nancy’s contract beyond 2026 and make him the highest-paid manager in MLS. Nancy reportedly refused due to her desire to work abroad.
The 48-year-old Frenchman led Columbus to League Cup glory in 2024 and won the 2021 Canadian Championship in his first of two seasons as CF Montreal head coach.
Nancy has previously assisted many of Montreal’s head coaches, including famous compatriot Thierry Henry, having previously coached in the club’s youth academy system from 2011.
Nancy launched a decade-long playing career in France as a defender for fourth-tier Toulon from 1995 to 1998.
–Field level media
