Celtic Football Club has taken the drastic decision to part company with manager Wilfried Nancy after a mere eight games at the helm. The announcement, made on Monday 5th January 2026, follows a damaging 3-1 home defeat to arch-rivals Rangers at Parkhead on Saturday.
Club Statement Confirms Immediate Departures
In an official club statement released on Monday afternoon, Celtic confirmed the termination of Nancy's contract with "immediate effect." The club extended its thanks to the departing manager for his efforts and wished him and his family well for the future.
The clear-out extends to Nancy's backroom team, with assistants Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen, and Maxime Chalier also leaving Celtic Park. In a further significant development, the club confirmed that Head of Football Operations Paul Tisdale has also left his position. Celtic stated that a further update for supporters would be provided "as soon as is practical."
Pressure Mounts After Old Firm Defeat
The pivotal moment leading to Nancy's dismissal was the weekend's 3-1 loss to Rangers. Despite taking the lead, Celtic succumbed to their fierce rivals, a result that placed the manager under intense and unsustainable pressure.
Speaking after the match, Nancy had remained defiant, insisting he was "very close" to turning the team's fortunes around and that he still believed Celtic were title contenders. "I saw enough except the fact that we haven't scored more goals," he said. "And again, I know that we lost but I have also to be objective. The level that we had at certain moments was really, really, really high. This is the reality."
Search Begins for New Leadership
The dual departure of both the first-team manager and the head of football operations leaves a significant leadership vacuum at the heart of the Scottish giants. The club's board now faces the urgent task of appointing a new management structure to stabilise the team and address a faltering season.
With the search for Nancy's successor now officially underway, Celtic's focus will shift to identifying a candidate capable of restoring the club's domestic dominance and meeting the high expectations of its fanbase.
