Ryan Stevenson has launched a strongly worded critique of new Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy, arguing that the Frenchman’s early behaviour at the club risks harming his credibility before he has even settled into the job.
Stevenson, the former Hearts midfielder, believes Nancy’s debut performance on the touchline during Celtic’s defeat to Hearts on Sunday sent out all the wrong signals to players, fans, and opponents alike.
According to Stevenson, certain clubs—Celtic being one of them—carry a unique identity, culture and sense of expectation. Because of that, he says, a new manager must immediately show confidence, authority, and a deep understanding of what the role requires. Instead, Stevenson felt Nancy appeared out of step with those standards.
He pointed to the sight of Nancy standing on the touchline wearing bright green trainers and relying on a small tactics board to communicate instructions as examples of behaviours that, in his view, looked amateurish rather than authoritative.
Stevenson stressed that while he respects the level of Major League Soccer and understands why Celtic looked to the United States for their new coach, the demands of managing Celtic are on an entirely different scale.
He insisted that Nancy must quickly adapt to the intensity of expectation around the club or else risk being overwhelmed by the role. Stevenson did not hide his frustration, saying even as someone who is not a Celtic supporter, he was shocked and angered by what he saw from the new manager in his first match.
He went further by claiming that Hearts boss Derek McInnes completely outthought Nancy tactically during the match at Celtic Park.
Stevenson referenced a widely circulated photograph from the second half which shows Nancy attempting to explain something to captain Callum McGregor using a handheld tactics board, while in the background McInnes appears to be watching with a knowing expression.
For Stevenson, the image perfectly captured the difference in composure and readiness between the two managers on the day.
Stevenson concluded by warning that Celtic fans expect their manager to look in control and ready for anything, not someone still trying to piece together ideas during matches.
He dismissed talk of Nancy being a “student of the game,” saying Celtic require decisiveness and authority, not what he considers unnecessary gimmicks. If Nancy does not adjust rapidly, Stevenson believes the job could become too much for him, with serious consequences for both his reputation and Celtic’s season.
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