Celtic have appointed Wilfried Nancy, coach of Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer, as their new permanent manager to replace Brendan Rodgers, who was dismissed in October. He has signed a two-and-a-half year contract.
Martin O’Neill signed off his spell as interim manager with a 1-0 home win against Dundee on Wednesday night. The result moved Celtic level on points with Hearts, who remain top of the Scottish Premiership on goal difference despite being held to a 1-1 draw at home against Kilmarnock. Celtic also have a game in hand on their title rivals.
During his tenure O’Neill also saw off Rangers in a League Cup semi-final to set up a final at Hampden Park against St Mirren on 14 December.
The final gives Nancy an early chance to secure a trophy. He won the MLS Cup with Columbus Crew in 2023 and the Leagues Cup in 2024, when he was named MLS coach of the year. He also took the Crew to the Concacaf Champions Cup final last year.
Nancy said in a club statement: “I am so happy to be named Celtic manager, it is a massive honour for myself and my family. Before I say anything else I want to do one thing – I want to thank the great Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney for all they have done in recent weeks with the team. The job they have done has been fantastic.
“These guys have given so much to the club across so many years and I know our fans, like me, all recognise the brilliant job they have done during this recent period. They have my total respect and my total gratitude.
“I hope to meet them both very soon and thank them personally. 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.”
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The 48-year-old was regarded as an outsider for the Celtic job when Rodgers resigned. However, the Frenchman fits the desired Celtic profile of an emerging coach who they believe can progress within their structure. Nancy, who previously managed Montreal, took Columbus Crew to seventh in the MLS Eastern Conference this regular season. The Crew bowed out in round one of the MLS playoffs against Cincinnati.
Celtic’s principal shareholder, Dermot Desmond – who issued a scathing statement on Rodgers after his exit – had far warmer words for the new manager. “We believe we have brought a hugely talented manager to the club,” he said in a statement.
“He is a man who absolutely understands the demands at Celtic, he is a man of real humility but also someone with his own ideas, his own vision and such a personal drive and desire to do well for the club and our supporters.
“Everyone at the club will unite strongly behind Wilfried as we move forward and we will ensure we will give him our unswerving support as we strive to achieve our objectives.”
The Celtic chair, Peter Lawwell, said: “We are really pleased to welcome Wilfried to Celtic. He is a manager with a record which demonstrates the kind of football which we know Celtic supporters love to see. We will give Wilfried all our support as we look to once again bring success to our fans.”
Nedim Bajrami scored a dramatic last-gasp penalty to rescue a point for Rangers in an eventful 2-2 draw with Dundee United at Tannadice.
Zac Sapsford’s delightful solo goal in the 11th minute gave the home side the lead before the 19-year-old left-back Jayden Meghoma powered in a long-range equaliser in the 23rd minute for his first Rangers goal since arriving on loan from Brentford.
Amar Fatah restored United’s lead in the 66th minute with a fine finish but in the last of six added minutes the Rangers substitute Max Aarons was brought down in the box by Will Ferry and Bajrami fired the spot-kick high into the net.
There were goals aplenty at Pittodrie where the St Mirren defender Richard King grabbed an equaliser nine minutes into stoppage time to earn a point at Aberdeen in a 3-3 draw, all the goals coming in the second half.
The visitors took the lead through Marcus Fraser’s 55th-minute penalty, but Aberdeen turned things around thanks to Dante Polvara and the substitute Marko Lazetic. Jonah Ayunga levelled matters but Lazetic scored a second tha