Thirty-seven days after Brendan Rodgers' departure from Celtic Park, the Scottish Premiership club has announced Wilfried Nancy as the permanent replacement. The appointment follows a lengthy pursuit, with chief executive Michael Nicholson revealing that the Parkhead board had long been aware of Nancy's managerial qualities.
Nancy, a 48-year-old Frenchman, has made a significant impression in North America, earning him the attention of Celtic's top brass. With the assistance of former United States striker Herculez Gomez, who has closely followed Nancy's career for ESPN, BBC Scotland delved into the factors that made Nancy an appealing candidate for Celtic.
Nancy's meteoric rise to prominence began in 2021 when he took over as manager of CF Montreal, succeeding his friend and former boss Thierry Henry. Before that, Nancy was coaching under-14 girls' teams. His swift ascent is a testament to his footballing acumen and ability to adapt quickly.
Born in Le Havre to a father from Guadeloupe and a mother from West Africa, Nancy has already made history as the first black head coach in Major League Soccer (MLS) to win a title. His teams are known for their fast-paced, attacking style of play, which has garnered him comparisons to some of Europe's top coaches.
Gomez highlights several aspects that likely caught Celtic's eye:
1. Nancy's proven track record of success, with multiple titles to his name in North America.
2. His teams' exciting, attacking style of play.
3. His loose connection to the club through his assistant at Columbus Crew, Kwame Ampadu, who previously worked with Celtic's director of football operations, Paul Tisdale.
Gomez describes Nancy's football philosophy as "brave" and "nuanced," comparing it to that of Luis Enrique, the current Paris St-Germain manager. Nancy's teams focus on space, time, and movement, with players often finding themselves in advanced positions.
While Nancy's style can be a double-edged sword, with the potential for both spectacular success and occasional setbacks, Gomez believes his brand of football is "pleasing to the eye" and "catchy." Nancy's ability to implement his vision quickly and successfully is another appealing quality, with Gomez noting that the Frenchman has made a swift impact in both of his previous managerial roles.
Celtic supporters and the board will be hoping that Nancy can replicate his North American success on the Scottish Premiership stage, bringing exciting football and quick results to Parkhead.
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