Celtic Football Club are on the hunt for a new manager after taking the drastic decision to sack Wilfried Nancy following a catastrophic 33-day tenure.
A Historic and Disastrous Reign
The Scottish champions confirmed the Frenchman's departure on Monday, making him the shortest-serving manager in the club's long history. Nancy's appointment on a two-and-a-half-year deal on December 3, 2025, unravelled with astonishing speed.
His reign began with a damaging 2-1 home defeat to surprise league leaders Hearts. The misery compounded with a 3-0 Europa League loss to Roma, making Nancy the first Celtic boss ever to lose his opening two matches.
The situation failed to improve. Celtic lost six of their eight games under his leadership, winning only two. This dismal run included four consecutive defeats for the first time since 1978, during the Jock Stein era.
The final blow came on Saturday, January 3, 2026, with a 3-1 home defeat to arch-rivals Rangers in the Old Firm derby. This left Celtic six points adrift of Hearts in the Scottish Premiership, severely damaging their title hopes for the 2025-26 season.
The Search for a New Boss Begins
With Nancy's exit confirmed, bookmakers have immediately begun speculating on his successor. According to the latest odds from Betfair, a mix of familiar faces and new contenders lead the market.
Martin O'Neill is the current favourite at 13/8. The 73-year-old, who previously managed Celtic with great success between 2000 and 2005, enjoyed a positive spell as interim boss earlier this season before Nancy's appointment and is currently out of work.
In second place is Shaun Maloney at 2/1. The former Hibernian and Wigan Athletic manager is highly regarded and seen as a strong candidate for the permanent role.
Perhaps the most intriguing name is third-favourite Ange Postecoglou, priced at 4/1. The Australian enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at Celtic Park from 2021 to 2023 before leaving for the Premier League. He has been out of work since being dismissed by Nottingham Forest in October 2025.
Other names in the frame include:
- Kjetil Knutsen – 15/2
- Kieran McKenna – 17/2
- Brian Barry-Murphy – 17/2
Club Statement and Backroom Exodus
In an official statement, the club confirmed the sweeping changes. "Celtic Football Club today announces that it has decided to terminate the contract of manager Wilfried Nancy, with immediate effect," the statement read.
The club thanked Nancy for his efforts and wished him well. The departure triggered a full backroom clear-out, with assistants Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen, and Maxime Chalier also leaving.
In a further significant development, Head of Football Operations Paul Tisdale has also left his position. The club stated that a further update for supporters would be provided in due course as they seek stability after a period of remarkable turmoil.
The search for Celtic's next permanent manager is now underway, with the club's hierarchy under immense pressure to make an appointment that can salvage their season and restore faith among the support.
