By Martin Graham
Just over five weeks after Brendan Rodgers left Celtic Park, the Scottish Premiership club have confirmed Wilfried Nancy as their new manager. Chief executive Michael Nicholson described the French manager as someone whose work they had overseen for a long period, calling him their preferred choice from the start.
Nancy’s rise to the world of training has been swift. He became manager of CF Montreal in 2021, succeeding Thierry Henry, despite having recently worked with youth teams. The jump didn’t faze him. As former United States forward and ESPN analyst Herculez Gomez points out, Nancy’s approach is adventurous and highly detailed, shaped by a modern, sometimes unconventional way of viewing the sport.
His reputation grew quickly. Since taking on her first senior job, Nancy has collected trophies including the Canadian Championship, MLS Leagues Cup and MLS Cup. Born in Le Havre in 1977 to Guadeloupe and West African parents, he also broke new ground by becoming the first black coach to lift the MLS Cup. According to Gomez, Nancy prioritizes her footballing philosophy over immediate results, believing that results naturally follow a clear identity.
Why Celtic moved for him
Several factors placed Nancy on Celtic’s short list. His track record of success, energetic style and indirect link to the club through Columbus Crew assistant Kwame Ampadu, who previously worked alongside Celtic official Paul Tisdale, helped get him noticed.
Gómez explains that clubs in England and France had also shown interest. But Celtic represents a step into a bigger environment, offering tools it didn’t have in Montreal or Columbus. The challenge, he adds, is that Nancy’s methods require significant adaptation from the players. Their system includes a goalkeeper who plays high, centre-backs who carry the ball forward and wing-backs who act almost as main strikers, reminiscent of Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen.
The way he structures his team has drawn comparisons with the main European coaches. After noting similarities with Alonso, Gomez suggests that Nancy’s style reflects more of Luis Enrique’s emphasis on interpreting movement, space and connections on the pitch. Instead of fixed zones, players respond to each other’s positions and occupy zones fluidly, a concept rooted in “relationism”. The show is attractive but risky, although Nancy has generally been on the positive end of that risk.
Ready to make an instant mark
For Celtic fans, Gomez believes one detail should be highlighted: Nancy adapts quickly and reshapes teams without delay. In both Montreal and Columbus, he established his project quickly, regardless of different budgets or expectations.
His message to the wider Celtic fan base is clear. Nancy brings a distinct identity, a confident approach and a story of success in a short career. He intends to express his ideas through the team, and his track record shows that he is successful in a variety of conditions.
According to Gomez, fans should brace themselves for an energetic and expressive brand of soccer, one that has defined Nancy’s rapid rise and earned her widespread respect within MLS.
