Wilfried Nancy is establishing himself as the worst managerial appointment in Celtic’s history. The statistics tell the story…
03.01.2026 Celtic v theRangers, Scottish Premiership. Brian Wilson, Michael Nicholson and Chris McKay. Photo Kenny Ramsay IMAGO / News Licensing
Celtic’s troubles under Nancy deepened after a 3–1 defeat to theRangers at Celtic Park yesterday afternoon, a result that should have been the final nail in the coffin for the Hoops manager.
Celtic made the early breakthrough through Yang Hyun-jun, but the Ibrox club responded emphatically after the interval, with Youssef Chermiti finding the net twice and Mikey Moore also on the scoresheet which handed Danny Rohl’s side a decisive derby win.
The defeat for Celtic was notable for its rarity, with statistics shared by Scotland’s Coefficient on X highlighting that it marked the first occasion in 152 home matches in which Celtic scored first and still ended up on the losing side.
03.01.2026 Celtic v theRangers, Scottish Premiership. Michael Nicholson, Chris McKay and Brian Wilson. Photo Kenny Ramsay
The swing in momentum between the two rivals since Nancy arrived has been stark. The Ibrox club had endured their worst opening to a campaign since 1978, while Celtic, following the previous league meeting, held their biggest late-August advantage over their rivals since 1989.
When Nancy was appointed in early December, the gap between the two sides was nine points. That cushion has now disappeared entirely, with the two sides now locked level on points and both sitting six adrift of league leaders Heart of Midlothian.
Another damning statistic Nancy might not want to see is how quick it has taken for him to rack up four losses in the league compared to previous Celtic managers.
Games taken to hit four losses in the league:
Wilfried Nancy – six games
Tony Mowbray – 21 games
Ronny Deila – 38 games
Gordon Strachan – 40 games
Neil Lennon (1st spell) – 43 games
Ange Postecoglou – 44 games
Neil Lennon (2nd spell) – 51 games
Brendan Rodgers (2nd spell) – 57 games
Martin O’Neill – 57 games
Brendan Rodgers (1st spell) – 76 games.
Celtic manager Wilfried Nancy reacts during the Scottish Premiership match between Celtic and theRangers at Celtic Park on January 03, 2026. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
It truly has been one of the worst appointments in the club’s history. Those who appointed him cannot survive this either. A self-inflicted mess. 18 goals conceded in 8 games yet the manager seems to think all is well with his system. Absolutely bonkers. However, the season is still salvageable.
You might notice too that the manager with the best and also the third best record in the stats shown above is the one that the Celtic Board chased and insulted as he left the building before replacing hm with the absolute worst. In second bottom spot is Tony Mowbray who was sacked after a defeat to St Mirren, his fourth defeat on 21 games. Nancy is on course to have 14 defeats in 21 games, although the rate of decline is likely to increase.
Nancy is a cause rather than a symptom of Celtic’s problems. Those who went through a managerial process, identified him, spoke to him at length and decided he was the right man cannot be allowed to continue in their jobs.
Shaun Maloney and Martin O’Neill at Celtic Park on October 28, 2025 (Photo by Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)
Also, these players cannot escape blame. 18 defeats in a year. That is staggering. There were cracks under both Rodgers and O’Neill but it has escalated under Nancy. There are a good few who need emptied. Start with the goalkeeper, who is clearly going to go on playing until he’ told otherwise.
To be fair to Brendan Rodgers and also Martin O’Neill both warned the Celtic Board that the squad needs to be improved but so far we have had one loan signing of a player who hasn’t played since August.
Brendan Rodgers, Manager of Celtic, waves to fans as he arrives at the stadium prior to the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD3 match between Celtic FC and SK Sturm Graz at Celtic Park on October 23, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
What a complete mess the club is in from the boardroom, to the players on the pitch, to the manager. The Decline and Fall of Celtic FC is being brought to you by Messrs Desmond (x2), Lawwell (x2), Nicholson, McKay and Wilson added by their hapless Frenchman Wilfried Nancy, their first choice as the replacement for an elite manager.
Conor Spence
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The tit for tat shite between the board and some of the fan media must stop, both pathetically trying to gain upmanship at the clubs expense, the board should initiate the return of the GB asap, fan media has to reconnect with the club to a degree so we all move forward, ultimately putting the rest in their place by restoring natural order.
The GB, CC, board or any other body are irrelevant at this point, for our club to implode to such an extent that, THAT Rangers team can play us off the park (2nd half) is alarming.
Nancy MUST be relieved of his position immediately followed by begging O’Neill to return and then we can concentrate on improving the grossly underachieving squad.
It is only Dermot Desmond who can implement such changes in time to salvage this season, I’m astonished at DD, usually he has such high standards in everything he is involved with.
HH
Can’t argue with that, within a results business whatsoever.
This despite ourselves having the best domination, we have produced in our last 6 attempts against them, in that 1st half imo?
Deserved a better return than just the goal lead.
Yet the 2nd half, could be described as the worst, in those 6 matches. The quality of goals we are handing up, is at pathetic levels. No team is going to gain winning results, while gifting goals away.
This trait of not knowing what our team is going to produce on a game by game basis, is even more ridiculous, when getting produced in half’s of football, and has been in existence for way too long now. So course the frustrations are at breaking point within our support, possibly gone beyond that now imo?
Don’t understand why such a mental weakness exists, within our squad?
Especially with no lack of serial winners of trophies within it, despite the injury list?
Personally believe that this player trading model our club has existed upon, in recent times, is causing bigger problems to ourselves, which isn’t going to be a quick fix either imo?
The value of so many players in existence within our club, is currently plummeting massively at present?
Is that in order for players trying to force a move away from ourselves?
Seemed to have reached max levels for so many, after Munich, and nosedive since then.
I don’t see the board changing from there precious trading model whatsoever, yet having Nicholson, Tisdale and Nancy in position to restore the likes, has very little chance of success imo?
Even more relevant with the transfer window now open, and a shambolic situation within the club in existence?
Personally, believe that we should forget about this europa league campaign this season. Allow for as many as possible, of the want away players, to actually leave, during this window. Especially if they haven’t got any commitments for our club at present.
Course it might mean weakening the squad in quality terms, even further. But remaining in the covid season of players not bothering, I don’t no longer see as a solution either, going forward?
Current players values, are going to cost the club far more, than any not a penny more campaign, or any campaign offered up imo?
Just don’t see this board, changing policy regarding its precious trading model, so who is available as a manager to follow suit, in that regards?
Seen enough of Tisdale already, to see that he can’t spot the quality of player we require.
Nicholson isn’t capable of getting the deals done that are required.
And yesterday was the last straw for Nancy, and his non existent managerial skills.
Still believe that there is still enough time left in January, in order to try and salvage the situation within our club?
Not so confident that the right decision making will be made, especially with continuing with so many bad decision making that exists within our club, another huge trait that is in existence also?
I can’t believe Nancy is still at the club. The board are willfully sabotaging the team. I am enraged we’re signing players for him if today’s rumour about an injury prone Ivorian player is coming in.
We need to take our club back and Martin O’Niell and Shaun Maloney at helm.
I am disgusted with Nancy. In the name of God. Go.
Nancy. Get to F*ck. Nancy. Nancy. Get to F*ck.
This arrogant Frenchman. Pack your bags and go. You’re the worst Manager in Celtic’s history.
You’re a disgrace and you make me sick.
Sack the fucking board and take our club back.
The rot has set in from the top. This clown is insufferable.
I’ve got the rosary beads out Martin O’Niell.
May god send legions of Angels and fly him back into the Parkhead dugout.
Dear Celtic board. Get Martin back at Celtic,
And then get yourself to fuck. Charlatans, thieves and crooks. Tisdale get to fuck,
Bit plagiarism there Connor eh? As those stats were up on kerrydale last night from a poster, but your right! The big picture as we all now is forcing Desmond to sell up, which may seem impossible but we don’t know that fir sure
. I believe us the fans should unify world wide and offer to buy him out!! We live in an age of online banking do we not.. He would not doubt refuse but it will then become topical with others wanting to do so. If we had the right people in charge we could have a great stadium 72,]000 seat and symmetrical with built in hotel and museum to new main stand.Also the whole Celtic park campus modernised especially with the land we have, a whole end of fans that want to sing and support our great club which we keep younger generations engaged with our great club. We would have an amazing infustrure and that make sure we always make money to invest in the team and club. At the moment we have some of that but total cowards on a gravy train board, Desmond has to be removed its only way, we could be a million times more than we are!! We chased out a great manager that only wanted what we all did! That’s Celtic to truly reach its potential. Desmond haa shown himself to be a spiteful man that no one dare says no to, that needs sorted even if we have to use our World wide fans base to embarrass him at golf courses around the world.
We didnt chase out Brendan but we allowed them to! With idiot happy clappers that no doubt read cqn all to happy to pile on! a A serial winner!! That created this era of winning! And look now what we have! It’s an absolute disgrace but we can change it and only way now is to be rid of the Irish man forever!