Defeat in the derby too
Celtic fire manager after just eight games
January 5, 2026 – 4:59 p.mReading time: 2 minutes
The defeat in the derby was one too many: Wilfried Nancy’s chapter as Celtic coach is over. He had only recently taken over the office.
After eight games it’s over again: Celtic Glasgow has parted ways with coach Wilfried Nancy. The Scottish giants officially announced this on Monday, two days after their 3-1 derby defeat against Glasgow Rangers. The 48-year-old’s term of office ends after just a few weeks.
Nancy was only appointed as the new Celtic coach at the beginning of December. The Frenchman took over the role from interim coach Martin O’Neill, who took over the club after Brendan Rodgers resigned in October 2025. But the start for the new coach didn’t go according to plan at all.
The first game under Nancy was lost 2-1 in front of the home crowd against leaders Heart of Midlothian. Shortly afterwards there was a painful 3-0 home defeat against AS Roma in the Europa League, before Nancy and Celtic lost 3-1 to outsiders St. Mirren in the League Cup final. The record champions suffered all of these defeats within a week. Shortly afterwards there was a defeat against Dundee United (1:2). Celtic lost four games in a row for the first time since 1978. Nancy was also the first Celtic coach to start his term with two bankruptcies.
At the end of December, the former defender won his first two games with his new team. These were to be the only victories under his direction. Shortly before the turn of the year, Celtic lost to Motherwell (1:3). Celtic also left the field as losers in the “Old Firm” against Rangers – even though the team had taken the lead.
In addition to Nancy, his assistants Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen and Maxime Chalier also have to leave the club. Paul Tisdale, Head of Football Operations, is also no longer part of the club. It is not yet clear who will succeed Nancy.