Perhaps the biggest question hanging over Wilfried Nancy when he arrived at Celtic was the one about MLS.
In the end, the Frenchman was unable to shake his tag as a fish out of water, who could not handle the seismic cultural jump from an MLS franchise to a giant of British football.
Nancy was sacked after just 33 days, along with Paul Tisdale (who led the push to appoint him), having lost six of his first eight games in a start unprecedented in Celtic’s history.
Many in the US have conceded that the disastrous move had put a serious dent in the league’s reputation – particularly in the UK.
So the last thing they needed was a Championship club to hire an MLS manager of their own… and results to immediately end just as badly.
What has Wilfried Nancy’s Celtic tenure done to your expectations for the Hoops’ next appointment?
Eric Ramsay’s inevitable MLS comparisons to Wilfried Nancy at Celtic
After sacking Ryan Mason, West Brom hired Minnesota United boss Eric Ramsay last month.
Ramsay addressed Nancy at his first press conference, after being asked a pointed question about scepticism over the standard of MLS.
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Unlike Nancy, Ramsay has experience in British football (and no Wilfried, almost signing for Carlisle doesn’t count).
A close friend of recent Celtic manager candidate Kieran McKenna, he progressed from the academy of Shrewsbury Town to Chelsea and Manchester United, being promoted to the first-team with another.
With no playing career, Ramsay is the youngest British coach to ever achieve a UEFA Pro License. In 2023, aged 32, he became head coach of Minnesota.
Another difference to Nancy is his style of football, which is comparatively much more focused on out-of-possession structure and counter-attacking. Despite finishing fourth in the table last year, Minnesota averaged 39% possession, the lowest in the league.
This approach has not translated well to West Brom. Occasionally using ex-Hoops winger Mikey Johnston as a wing-back, Ramsay has won none of his eight games in charge.
In just his second game, the Baggies were humiliated 5-0 at home by Phillipe Clement’s Norwich. They have failed to score in five of his eight games.
Johnston isn’t the only ex-Celtic in his squad… Nat Phillips is a regular for them too. Apologies for the memories that his name will bring back…
Was John Barnes the worst manager you have seen at Celtic?
Wilfried Nancy’s spell at Celtic
Nancy’s tenure at Celtic began with a difficult schedule and ultimately resulted in disaster.
Following O’Neill’s successful (first) interim period, Nancy suffered three consecutive losses to Hearts, Roma, and St Mirren in his opening week.
This poor start, compounded by a loss to Dundee United, led to early calls for his dismissal from the Hoops supporters.
Although brief victories against Aberdeen and Livingston offered a glimmer of hope, subsequent defeats to Motherwell and Rangers confirmed his exit.
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