Scottish football journalist Anthony Joseph has reported that Wilfried Nancy is among the leading candidates to become the next Celtic manager.
Over the weekend, several reports surfaced linking the Columbus Crew boss with a potential move to Celtic Park as a replacement for Brendan Rodgers. Although Nancy has spent his entire coaching career in North America, his contract is nearing its end, and a move to Europe is believed to be one of his main ambitions.
The 48-year-old French coach has previously managed CF Montréal and Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer (MLS). However, taking charge of Celtic midway through the season would be considered a bold and potentially risky decision for both sides.
According to Joseph, Nancy features on a shortlist that also includes Bodø/Glimt manager Kjetil Knutsen and Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna.
Nancy’s credentials are strong — in the past two years, he has lifted both the MLS Cup and the Leagues Cup, earned the title of MLS Coach of the Year, and guided Columbus Crew to the CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
Anthony Joseph shared his latest managerial update late on Monday, identifying Nancy as one of the prime names under consideration. Meanwhile, Celtic’s board is still weighing up whether to extend interim boss Martin O’Neill’s tenure, with a congested fixture list and a cup final approaching after the international break.
Since Rodgers’ resignation and Dermot Desmond’s subsequent statement, there has been no official communication from the club. O’Neill has been repeatedly questioned about his future but has chosen not to reveal his intentions.
Two weeks after Rodgers stepped down, plans for appointing his successor are said to be well advanced, though Celtic may wait for more options to open up later in the year.
Sky Sports News recently reported that the club’s leadership has been impressed with how O’Neill has revitalised the squad and improved morale at Celtic Park. Discussions between Dermot Desmond and O’Neill are expected to take place this week.
Leave a Reply