Celtic announce new manager as club release statement on Martin O'Neill replacement

He replaces interim boss Martin O'Neill, after his protracted move from the Major League Soccer side Columbus Crew was finally confirmed.

The new boss will face top-of-the-table Hearts at Celtic Park on Sunday.

The new boss has signed a contract until the summer of 2028 and will take over from interim manager Martin O’Neill as Brendan Rodgers’ permanent successor.

Nancy described his appointment as a "massive honour".

He thanked O’Neill and Shaun Maloney for their "fantastic" work.

In a statement, the new boss said: "Now it’s up to me to carry on this great work and carry our great club forward and I can’t wait to get going and become part of such a brilliant institution.

The statement added: "Celtic is one of the world’s proper football clubs, real atmosphere and heart and soul, real high standards and real demands, which I am ready for.

"I know the history, I know the values of Celtic and I know what is expected of me on this journey.

"I know what Celtic means to so many people and my number one aim will be simple – to give our fans a strong, exciting, attacking, winning football team they can be so proud of."

Chief executive Michael Nicholson added: "We have been aware of Wilfried and his quality of work for some time - he was our number one candidate when we began the process of appointing a new manager and we are delighted that he has agreed to join the club."

Brendan Rodgers resigned as the Celtic manager in October during his second spell with the club.

The resignation followed a period of poor results, including a 3-1 loss to Hearts, which left Celtic eight points behind the league leaders.

Now, Celtic will face Roma in the Europa League next Thursday and play in the League Cup final against St Mirren three days later.

Nancy, originally from Le Havre, France, transitions to Celtic following a successful period in North America.

After ending his playing career, he moved into coaching and advanced through several developmental and senior roles, most notably with CF Montréal and the Columbus Crew.

He first became head coach at CF Montréal in 2021, winning the Canadian Championship during his tenure.

In December 2022, he took charge of Columbus Crew, leading the team to the MLS Cup in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024.

His achievements earned him the MLS Coach of the Year award for the 2024 season.

Nancy is recognised for employing a possession-based tactical structure and for emphasising systematic team organisation and player development.

His teams have typically operated in a 3-4-2-1 formation, focusing on controlled build-up play and positional discipline.

This role represents Nancy’s first managerial position in European club football.

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