Celtic’s manager race is seemingly going to gather pace over the international break.
Two weeks on from Brendan Rodgers’ resignation, the Hoops have now played four matches under the interim leadership of Martin O’Neill.
O’Neill has steadied the ship, but it now appears that the search for a permanent solution is to take major steps over the international break, if reports are to be believed.
Kieran McKenna, Robbie Keane and Efrain Juarez have been linked with the role, whilst Craig Bellamy has ruled it out.
But Wilfried Nancy is now being reported as the front-runner, with Kjetil Knutsen as his closest competitor.
Wilfried Nancy becomes Celtic job ‘front-runner’ ahead of Kjetil Knutsen
Nancy has just completed his third season in charge of Columbus Crew in MLS, where he was eliminated in the play-offs by FC Cincinnati.
He delivered an unlikely play-off win in his first season, before winning the Leagues Cup (The biggest club competition in North and Central America) in his second year.
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Nancy says that this could be his final season in Columbus, citing a potential desire to come to Europe – and that could be about to happen.
According to the Scottish Sun, Nancy is the new front-runner for the job and well-regarded by the Hoops’ Head of Football Operations, Paul Tisdale.
Nancy is assisted in Columbus by Kwame Ampadu, who would ‘almost certainly’ follow him to Celtic should he get the job during the international break.
The report says that Ampadu is close friends with Tisdale, who he has previously worked with at Exeter City.
Tisdale eventually worked with Ampadu’s son Ethan, who now plays in the Premier League for Leeds United, as well as the Welsh national team.
These connections explain why Nancy’s name has been floating around so much – there is something in this after all.
Kjetil Knutsen in the running for Celtic along with Wilfried Nancy
The report also says that Knutsen remains in the running, with his time at Bodo/Glimt coming to an end this year. Knutsen is certainly a more familiar name to Celtic fans.
67 Hail Hail has reported that Knutsen would be keen on the Celtic role, but wouldn’t be available until the end of his Champions League campaign with Bodo/Glimt.
Knutsen is more experienced in the European game than Nancy, but it would remain to be seen if he could have the same impact in a completely different football setup to that at Bodo.
The same question goes for Nancy, who is available without delay given the end of his season in the US.
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