eltic managerial frontrunner Wilfried Nancy is “locked in” for the 2026 MLS season, according to his boss at current club Columbus Crew.
Nancy is the odds-on favourite to become next Celtic manager amid reports that Parkhead chiefs are holding talks with various candidates in London this week.
The 48-year-old Frenchman has won two trophies over his three seasons in charge of Columbus Crew and steered them to the Concacaf Champions Cup final last year. He was also voted MLS Coach of the Year in 2024.
Nancy saw his 2025 campaign end abruptly last weekend when Columbus were eliminated from the MLS play-offs after a 2-1 defeat to FC Cincinnati, fuelling speculation over a possible move to Celtic over the international break.
Nancy also has links to one of the key Parkhead power brokers through his assistant coach, Kwame Ampadu, who worked alongside the current Celtic head of football operations, Paul Tisdale, at Exeter City between 2008 and 2012.
However, Columbus Crew general manager Issa Tull has insisted that the club are planning for Nancy to remain at the helm next season.
He said: “Wilfried is under contract. We’re in deep discussions about expanding the squad for next year, developing preseason plans, all that good stuff.
“What’s the future going to bring? You never know. You have to be prepared for anything, but the way things are going, he’s locked in.”
Nancy himself shied away from answering questions about the links to Celtic as he joined Tull at a post-season media briefing on Thursday.
“I’m not here to talk about myself,” he said. “I’m here to talk about the team. I have nothing to say about any kind of reports.”
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