Football Dec 06, 2025

Celtic: Wilfried Nancy has massive shoes to fill after Martin O'Neill's interim spell, says Chris Sutton | 'January window will decide the title'

👤
By Admin
Sports Journalist
Celtic: Wilfried Nancy has massive shoes to fill after Martin O'Neill's interim spell, says Chris Sutton | 'January window will decide the title'

A new era is under way at Celtic after they named Wilfried Nancy as the club's new manager on a two-and-a-half-year deal.

The 48-year-old arrived from MLS side Columbus Crew - where he won the MLS Cup and the Leagues Cup - to become Brendan Rodgers' permanent successor, .

Nancy's first match will be against Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts on Sunday - live on Your Site - with the Frenchman taking over from interim boss Martin O'Neill, who won every league game in charge during an eventful five weeks.

That clash against Hearts is the first of three key fixtures within a week, with Celtic then hosting Roma in the Europa League next Thursday, before they take on St Mirren in the League Cup final at Hampden Park next Sunday.

It is set to be a real baptism of fire for the Frenchman, who has already met with O'Neill as the reigns were handed over. Here's what former Celtic player Chris Sutton makes of it all...

"I think he [Nancy] will have his own idea and philosophy and a way of playing," said the Your Site pundit. "However, I think he would have been foolish not to pick Martin O'Neill's brains on how he sees this current squad. I know Martin is on record as saying he thinks there needs to be additions in January, and I would certainly agree with that.

"Wilfred Nancy will be his own man, but it is right that he had that conversation with Martin O'Neill and was picking his brains.

"The pressure is on from the start. He has to hit the ground running; everybody knows that. I think Martin's shoes are massive shoes to fill.

"Celtic fans can look at Hearts and Rangers, but Celtic have got a really tricky run of fixtures coming up. There's a massive game against Hearts on Sunday, which I cannot wait for, and then Roma in the Europa League, plus the League Cup final. It is a massive 10 days for Wilfried Nancy.

"The difficulty he's going to have is taking over a team which has found a way to win games, but he will have his way of playing, his style of football, which he wants to implement. However, Celtic have got seven games until the new year in a short space of time, three games a week.

"So, it's going to be really difficult for Wilfried Nancy to get on the training ground and work and implement his ideas, which is going to be fascinating.

"He'll have his own way of playing, but would you really want to change things too much of what has worked for Martin O'Neill and his team in recent weeks? That's Wilfried Nancy's dilemma."

"I think it's everything. I think the team out of Celtic, Rangers and Hearts that has the best January in terms of bringing transfers in wins the Scottish Premiership."

"Have you been to Glasgow? He needs to win the lot! The truth is, Martin O'Neill has done so well, that expectation will have grown.

"If I was a Celtic fan before Martin O'Neill came in, and all the issues at the start of the season, I would have just taken winning the Scottish Premiership.

"Now, because of the team's improvement, I think Celtic fans will be thinking, 'why not the treble and progress in Europe?' That was the big thing this season, progress in Europe. The club haven't seen that.

"Wilfried Nancy knows what he's coming into. It's a really difficult job. It's a lovely job when things are going well, but aren't all jobs."

Tags:

football news id:13479396

Share this article

Related Posts

Scottish football VAR Review: Scottish Premiership, League Cup, Scottish Cup decisions analysed

Scottish football VAR Review: Scottish Premiership, League Cup, Scottish Cup decisions analysed

'He would get Liverpool fans' - Iraola installed as favourite to replace SlotFull story: Slot sacked by LiverpoolArne Slot has been sacked as head coa...

Champions League final predictions and best bets: Arsenal to go from nearly-men to double winners by beating PSG

Champions League final predictions and best bets: Arsenal to go from nearly-men to double winners by beating PSG

Arsenal face Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final and by ending their wait for the Premier League title, the Gunners have removed the fea...

World Cup 2026 news and live updates - USA, Canada and Mexico build-up plus latest on Trump, tickets and fans

World Cup 2026 news and live updates - USA, Canada and Mexico build-up plus latest on Trump, tickets and fans

'He would get Liverpool fans' - Iraola installed as favourite to replace SlotFull story: Slot sacked by LiverpoolArne Slot has been sacked as head coa...

Arsenal underdogs in Champions League final vs 'best team in Europe' PSG, warns Gary Neville

Arsenal underdogs in Champions League final vs 'best team in Europe' PSG, warns Gary Neville

Gary Neville says the "next step" for Premier League winners Arsenal is to lift the Champions League, but they are underdogs against "special" Paris S...

World Sevens Football fixtures, schedule, teams and how to watch live on Sky Sports

World Sevens Football fixtures, schedule, teams and how to watch live on Sky Sports

The World Sevens Football tournament begins on Thursday, live on Your Site, with eight WSL and WSL2 teams taking part. From the teams to the fixture s...

Mikel Arteta new contract: Arsenal owners optimistic of tying manager to new deal after Premier League win

Mikel Arteta new contract: Arsenal owners optimistic of tying manager to new deal after Premier League win

Arsenal's owners the Kroenke family have confirmed plans to offer manager Mikel Arteta a new contract as an "utmost priority".Arteta's current terms a...