6 Jul 2026 16:02 BST |
4 min read
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Former Celtic head coach Wilfried Nancy could soon find himself at the helm of BlueCo-owned Strasbourg.
The Frenchman is keen to get back in the saddle after his disastrous spell at Parkhead over the festive period. Nancy returned to Europe after a sparkling spell in Major League Soccer with Montreal and the Columbus Crew.
The 49-year-old turned a perennially poor Montreal into a force to be reckoned with (they have since slumped back to being also-rans) and then won silverware with the Columbus Crew, while playing arguably the most exciting brand of football in North America.
And yet, despite all of his success in MLS, he failed spectacularly at Celtic. Nancy came in mid-season and tried to immediately implement his system, which completely backfired. The players did not take him seriously.
After losing six of his eight games in charge, he was unceremoniously sacked in January, just 33 days into his tenure. He has been out of a job since, but perhaps not for much longer.
Nancy could join BlueCo
MLS is currently in the midst of a World Cup break. Many clubs used this as an opportunity for a second pre-season, which has resulted in numerous coaches losing their jobs. Even the Columbus Crew, Nancy’s former club, made a change.
Naturally, the Frenchman was linked with a return stateside. However, Nancy feels that he has unfinished business in Europe and is determined to stay on the continent. He recently revealed that he dreams of taking a job in Ligue 1.
Remarkably, that opportunity is now set to present itself. Despite his disappointing spell at Celtic, reports in France, including from the reliable L’Equipe, reveal that Nancy is one of the names on Strasbourg’s shortlist.
The BlueCo-owned club have been forced to look for a new coach after Gary O’Neil was poached by promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town. Nancy is believed to be a serious contender to replace the Englishman.
Initial discussions took place last week, and a face-to-face meeting is scheduled for today, Monday. This meeting will reportedly take place in the United States. Two other as yet undisclosed names are also in the running.
What works in Nancy’s favour is the fact that Strasbourg’s American owners have made it a requirement for the new coach to be fluent in both English and French. This is a big bonus for the former Crew boss.
Nancy previously also held talks with Lorient, but it seems that Strasbourg are a much more realistic option now. This is a very intriguing project for the 49-year-old because of the resources the Alsatians have at their disposal due to BlueCo.
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