Football Dec 07, 2025

Celtic manager search: Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy finalising deal to become next Hoops boss

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Celtic manager search: Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy finalising deal to become next Hoops boss

Celtic are finalising the paperwork for Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy to become their new manager.

It's understood Nancy's assistant Kwame Ampadu is also set to join the Scottish champions.

The Hoops hope to complete the deals before the weekend, with Nancy due to take over next week.

Interim boss Martin O'Neill and assistant Shaun Maloney will remain in charge for Celtic's Europa League clash away to Feyenoord on Thursday, and are expected to be in the dugout for Sunday's game against Hibernian, live on SportNews.

In the last two years, Nancy has won the MLS Cup and Leagues Cup as well as being named MLS Coach of the Year. He also took Columbus Crew to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final last year.

Celtic see many similarities between Wilfried Nancy and Ange Postecoglou.

The former came recommended by the club's head of football operations, Paul Tisdale, who has been monitoring his progress for some time.

Postecoglou won titles in Australia and Japan, plus the Asian Cup with the Australian national team.

Nancy, younger than Postecoglou at the age of 48, has already won titles in America with Columbus Crew. He even took Crew 96 to the North American equivalent of the Champions League final. In just four years of management, Nancy has achieved success. This has come to the attention of Celtic, who feel he can make that next step into European football.

He's also said to be a strong character, like Postecoglou, which could lead to some passionate scenes on the touchline and interesting press conferences.

SportNews' Michael Shuel:

Nancy, 48, is available straight away following the conclusion of Columbus Crew's season. He has established himself as one of MLS's top coaches, earning the 2024 MLS Coach of the Year after narrowly missing out two years prior.

The Frenchmen led Columbus Crew to a domestic cup double, finished second in the league, and reached the CONCACAF Champions Cup final the season before.

His teams are known for their attacking, possession style and aggressive high press and he predominantly sets up with three centre-backs and two marauding wing-backs. Despite finishing seventh this season, Columbus still ranked first in the MLS for possession, progressive passes and final-third tackles.

Nancy's assistant, who could join him at Celtic, is Kwame Ampadu, who previously coached Exeter City U18s when Paul Tisdale, now Celtic's head of football operations, was the first-team manager.

Nancy would also find a familiar face at Parkhead in Alistair Johnston, whom he first signed at CF Montréal before the full-back's move to Celtic.

Montreal was Nancy's first senior head-coach role after spending a decade developing as a coach through their academy system. There, he broke multiple franchise records and lifted the 2022 Canadian Championship which saw them qualify for the CONCACAF Champions League.

Tags:

football news id:13475728

Share this article

Related Posts

Tyrick Mitchell touted for England World Cup spot as Matheus Fernandes provides hope for West Ham - Premier League hits and misses

Tyrick Mitchell touted for England World Cup spot as Matheus Fernandes provides hope for West Ham - Premier League hits and misses

Tyrick Mitchell is the latest Crystal Palace player being pushed forward to play an important role for England at the World Cup next summer."I'm pret...

Brighton 1-1 West Ham: Georginio Rutter scores in stoppage time to cancel out Jarrod Bowen strike

Brighton 1-1 West Ham: Georginio Rutter scores in stoppage time to cancel out Jarrod Bowen strike

Georginio Rutter scored a stoppage-time equaliser to deny West Ham a big away win at Brighton in a 1-1 draw.Jarrod Bowen looked to have nabbed the Ham...

Celtic 1-2 Hearts: Wilfried Nancy endures nightmare start as Hoops boss as visitors stay top of league with win at Celtic Park

Celtic 1-2 Hearts: Wilfried Nancy endures nightmare start as Hoops boss as visitors stay top of league with win at Celtic Park

Hearts welcomed new Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy to Scotland with a nightmare debut in the dugout as goals from Claudio Braga and Oisin McEntee moved th...

Emiliano Sala: Cardiff begin claim exceeding £100m in French courts over death of striker in 2019

Emiliano Sala: Cardiff begin claim exceeding £100m in French courts over death of striker in 2019

Cardiff City are set for a hearing in the French Courts on Monday as they sue FC Nantes for €120.2m (£105m).Cardiff filed a complaint in Nantes Commer...

Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace: Marc Guehi heads in late winner to send Eagles soaring to fourth in Premier League

Fulham 1-2 Crystal Palace: Marc Guehi heads in late winner to send Eagles soaring to fourth in Premier League

Marc Guehi's brilliant late header at Fulham sent Crystal Palace up to fourth in the Premier League with a 2-1 victory over their London rivals.The Ea...

Ref Watch LIVE! Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership incidents analysed by Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd

Ref Watch LIVE! Premier League, EFL and Scottish Premiership incidents analysed by Dermot Gallagher and Jay Bothroyd

Slot 'has no idea' if Salah will play for Liverpool againLiverpool head coach Arne Slot says he was "surprised" by Mohamed Salah saying their relation...