Wilfried Nancy could be about to become Celtic manager.
Reports are certainly making it look that way. The Columbus Crew boss is in talks with the Scottish champions over replacing Brendan Rodgers.
Little is known about Nancy in this part of the world, but we have learned a bit more over the last week. A possession-based coach, he implements some interesting methods when it comes to his playing style.
But will he be able to translate his success in the USA over to Celtic? No one knows yet.
One Columbus Crew expert has expressed concern over the speed of his transition coming to Glasgow, warning that fans might not see the real Nancy until next season.
Columbus Crew expert voices concern over Wilfried Nancy to Celtic
Nancy was 2024’s MLS Coach of the Year, winning several trophies in his time at Columbus and making last year’s CONCACAF Champions Cup final.
He would leave the club having completely transformed them into one of the most entertaining and formidable teams in the country.
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For Matt of the 4TheCrew podcast however, speaking to Off the Underside, Celtic may not be the right place for him to continue his coaching journey.
He said: “If he does get to Celtic, he’s done it within five years of becoming a coach.
“Especially this season, I think it’s not the greatest situation for him, because of where Celtic is right now. Hearts being seven points clear.
“He might easily come in and say ‘I’m not going to change a whole lot this year, I’m going to do what we need to do to win, and then once the off-season comes in, I’m going to put in my own ideas.’
“That’s probably what he should do, I don’t know if that’s what he will do. The way that he sets up his team, it takes time.
“And it doesn’t feel like, right now, Celtic has time, if they want to win another title. So I don’t even know if you’ll see the real way of Nancy’s philosophy until the following season.”
The 48-year-old Frenchman will even be looking to prove his own fans wrong, should he land the Parkhead role.
Wilfried Nancy’s backroom staff at Columbus Crew
Nancy’s emergence as a Celtic candidate is largely owed to the club’s Head of Football Operations, Paul Tisdale.
Tisdale is familiar with Nancy’s assistant, Kwame Ampadu, from working with him at Exeter City. Ampadu would almost certainly follow Nancy to Glasgow.
35-year-old Yoann Damet is also on his coaching team in Columbus, and is highly-rated having worked as a coach since his early 20s.
Analytics expert Alex Mysiw is also well-thought-of, but whether he would want to follow Nancy remains to be seen.
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