Article by Daniel Scorpie – Published Tuesday, 06 January 2026, 11:48 / Updated Tuesday, 06 January 2026 11:50
Celtic sacked their third manager this season following Saturday's derby defeat to Rangers (1-3) at home. Wilfried Nancy has only lasted a month in charge of the Scottish champions, with the 48-year-old Frenchman losing six of the eight matches he has been on the bench for the “whites and greens”.
UPDATE – Celtic recalled the coach who replaced Wilfried Nancy: “Celtic Football Club can confirm that Martin O'Neill will be manager until the end of this season. Martin will be assisted by Shaun Maloney and Mark Fotheringham as assistants, as well as Stephen McManus, who will join our current coaches Gavin Strachan, Stevie Woods and Greg Wallace in the first team technical staff.”
THE INITIAL NEWS – After ending last year with an embarrassing failure (0-2) at Motherwell, Celtic started 2026 just as badly. The champion of Scotland also lost in the Old Firm, 1-3 right at Celtic Park, so after 20 Premiership stages they are in 2nd-3rd place, tied with their rival from Glasgow, but 6 points behind the leader Hearts.
Club Statement
— Celtic Football Club (@CelticFC) January 5, 2026
Celtic Football Club today announces that it has decided to terminate the contract of manager Wilfried Nancy with immediate effect. The club thanks Wilfried for his efforts and wishes him and his family all the best for the future. New information will be communicated to supporters as soon as possible
– Celtic Glasgow press release
Six defeats in 8 games and a League Cup final lost!
The patience of Catholic supporters has come to an end, and the club's management had to make a drastic decision. Wilfried Nancy was dismissed, after he had been appointed for exactly one month!
The coach coming from MLS from the Columbus Crew had a miserable record: six losses and only two wins, 11-18 goal difference. In addition, the French also lost (1-3) the final of the Scottish League Cup to St. Mirren.
Nancy had been appointed on 4 December after Martin O'Neill had agreed to act as interim for five weeks on Monday and eight games. Celtic had parted company at the end of October with Brendan Rodgers, with whom Celtic had won the last two titles, the Scottish League Cup and Cup.
Three managers fired in one season, record in 138 years!
Never in Catholic's 138-year history have three managers been fired in the same season and we are only in the middle of the ongoing one! Wilfried Nancy was only the 20th different manager to lead the team at Cetic Park.
It is the longest-lived Scot Willie Maley (1897-1940), who lasted 1,617 matches!
The Hoops have also announced the departure of Paul Tisdale from the club, who has stepped down as director of football. All members of Wilfried Nancy's technical team who joined him last month have left, including number 2 Kwame Ampadu.
