Celtic have sacked manager Wilfried Nancy after just 33 days and eight matches in charge, the shortest managerial tenure in the club's history. The French coach, appointed from Columbus Crew on a two-and-a-half-year contract on 4 December, lost six of his eight games, culminating in a 3-1 home defeat by Rangers on Saturday. The result prompted renewed protests against the club's board.
Martin O'Neill, the 73-year-old former manager who had been serving as interim boss before Nancy's arrival, returns to lead the team until the end of the season. O'Neill had won seven of eight matches in his previous interim spell, lifting Celtic back into title contention. His assistant Shaun Maloney also returns.
Nancy's reign was marked by defensive fragility, with Celtic conceding 18 goals in eight games—one more than in the previous 24 matches. He became the first Celtic manager to lose his first two games and suffered a humiliating Scottish League Cup final defeat to St Mirren. A 2-1 loss at Dundee United marked the club's first four-game losing streak since 1978.
Celtic confirmed that Nancy's assistants Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen, and Maxime Chalier have also left, along with head of football operations Paul Tisdale. The club has parted ways with two permanent managers and a head of football operations since winning the title last season, while chairman Peter Lawwell stepped down amid criticism.
O'Neill said in a statement: 'I know we would all have hoped for things to have worked out differently under Wilfried... For me, I've been asked to take this great job on again and my focus will be to try and get us back to winning ways.' Celtic currently sit six points behind league leaders Hearts.
