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

West Ham vs Arsenal: PGMO to 'be vigilant' over grappling at set pieces after 'clear and obvious' foul on David Raya

West Ham vs Arsenal: PGMO to 'be vigilant' over grappling at set pieces after 'clear and obvious' foul on David Raya

Chief refereeing officer Howard Webb says the PGMO will continue to "be vigilant" over "impactful" grappling at set pieces following the "clear and ob...

Xabi Alonso: Former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen coach has dilemma of moving to Chelsea or waiting for 'dream' Liverpool job

Xabi Alonso: Former Real Madrid and Bayer Leverkusen coach has dilemma of moving to Chelsea or waiting for 'dream' Liverpool job

Xabi Alonso has a big decision to make if he is offered the Chelsea job.Managing Chelsea is still an attractive option for leading managers, but they...

Ben White injury: Arsenal and England defender a major doubt for World Cup as knee issue ends season

Ben White injury: Arsenal and England defender a major doubt for World Cup as knee issue ends season

Arsenal defender Ben White will miss the rest of the season with a medial ligament injury, and it is understood he is unlikely to be fit for the World...

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez back in the spotlight after astonishing press conference

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez back in the spotlight after astonishing press conference

Florentino Perez left journalists and Spanish football stunned with his performance at a press conference on Tuesday after claiming he was the victim...

Benjamin Sesko: Howard Webb believes Man Utd forward handled ball vs Liverpool but VAR could not disallow due to lack of evidence

Benjamin Sesko: Howard Webb believes Man Utd forward handled ball vs Liverpool but VAR could not disallow due to lack of evidence

Howard Webb believes the ball hit Benjamin Sesko's hand as he scored for Manchester United against Liverpool - but also says VAR could not disallow th...

Motherwell 2-3 Celtic: Kelechi Iheanacho scores 100th-minute penalty to clinch comeback win and take Scottish Premiership title race to final day

Motherwell 2-3 Celtic: Kelechi Iheanacho scores 100th-minute penalty to clinch comeback win and take Scottish Premiership title race to final day

Kelechi Iheanacho's controversial 100th-minute penalty to grab Celtic a 3-2 win at Motherwell sent the Scottish Premiership title race to the final da...