Celtic have parted company with manager Wilfried Nancy after only eight matches in charge, marking the shortest managerial reign in the club’s history. Saturday’s 3-1 defeat to Rangers was Nancy’s sixth loss during a calamitous 33-day spell at Parkhead.
Nancy’s Brief and Tumultuous Tenure
The 48-year-old Frenchman took over Celtic on 4 December 2025, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract following the conclusion of the MLS season with Columbus Crew. Despite his previous success in the United States, Celtic’s form under Nancy dramatically declined after a strong run under interim manager Martin O’Neill, who won seven of eight matches before Nancy’s arrival.
Nancy became the first Celtic boss to lose his opening two games and suffered further setbacks, including:
- 3-1 defeat to St Mirren in the Premier Sports Cup final
- 2-1 loss at Dundee United
- 2-0 defeat at Motherwell
- Heavy 3-1 home loss to Rangers
This marked the first four-game losing streak for Celtic since 1978, a run that had not been seen since the era of legendary manager Jock Stein.
Although Celtic briefly won back-to-back league games against Aberdeen and Livingston, Nancy’s tenure was ultimately defined by defensive instability, conceding 18 goals in eight games—more than in the first 24 matches of the season.
Changes in Club Leadership
Alongside Nancy, Celtic have also removed Paul Tisdale from his role as head of football operations, a position he had held since October 2024. Nancy’s coaching staff, including Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen, and Maxime Chalier, have also departed. The club has promised a further update for supporters “as soon as is practical.”
Celtic currently sit second in the Scottish Premiership, six points behind Hearts and ahead of Rangers on goals scored, with a points total 15 behind where they were at the same stage last season.
Expert Analysis on Nancy’s Approach
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton criticized Nancy’s tactics, describing them as “kamikaze stuff”:
“He was One-Way Will, 3-4-3, I’m not going to change. He needed to adapt. Celtic have played with a back four as long as I can remember, and he came in halfway through the season, with a squad which, in truth, is pretty incapable, and trashed the team. While some of the football was good on the eye, Celtic were far too patchy.”
Nancy had previously achieved success in North America, leading Columbus Crew to the MLS Cup in 2023 and the Leagues Cup, and winning MLS Manager of the Year 2024. However, his side struggled in 2025, finishing seventh in the Eastern Conference and 12th overall.
In his latest 20 games as a coach, Nancy secured just five wins, raising questions about whether his style could translate successfully to Scottish football.
Celtic’s Shortest-Serving Managers
Nancy’s 33-day reign surpasses the brevity of John Barnes, who managed Celtic from June 1999 to February 2000, overseeing 29 matches over eight months. With Brendan Rodgers having left in October to join Al-Qadsiah in Saudi Arabia, Celtic now face the challenge of appointing a new manager to steer them through the remainder of the season.
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