Wilfried Nancy tipped for shock Columbus Crew return as Celtic sack rumours start
Wilfried Nancy has been backed to return to Columbus Crew just weeks after he left to join Celtic.
Celtic welcomed Nancy to their Lennoxtown training ground just two weeks ago, but the 48-year-old is already under massive pressure.
Wednesday night’s 2-1 loss to Dundee United marked a fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions for the Bhoys, who look a team demoralised.
Celtic fans were already calling for Nancy to be sacked after Sunday’s cup final loss to St. Mirren, and those calls have only intensified in the last 12 hours.
Ligue Two club Saint-Etienne are keeping an eye on Nancy‘s position at Celtic, and could make a move for the Frenchman if he is relieved of his duties.
Wilfried Nancy could return to Columbus Crew after ‘disastrous start’
Celtic have no intention of sacking Nancy yet, although a fifth successive loss in Sunday’s match against Aberdeen could leave decision-makers with no choice.
Thursday night’s game had been a chance to close the distance on Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts, with the Bhoys having boasted two games in hand.
| Scottish Premiership 2025-26 | Points | Games played |
| Hearts | 38 | 17 |
| Celtic | 32 | 16 |
| Rangers | 29 | 16 |
| Motherwell | 27 | 17 |
The Jam Tarts top the table by six points, with Celtic no longer having the games in hand to go level.
What will be of even graver concern, however, is that Rangers have now closed the gap on Celtic to just three points, and could even leapfrog Nancy‘s team after the weekend’s action is said and done.
The former CF Montreal boss is so highly rated in North America – winning MLS Coach of the Year in 2024 – so his dismal start at Celtic has been a surprise for many fans.
Football analyst for FOX, Stu Holden, wrote on Wednesday that the Frenchman could even return to his former side before they replace him.
“What a disastrous start for Wilfried Nancy — that’s now four straight losses at Celtic with rumours that he could be out,” Holden wrote on social media.
“Columbus might even have a chance to hire him back before they’ve found a new coach.”
Columbus Crew would welcome Nancy back
In Nancy’s three years with MLS club Columbus Crew, he made history several times.
Winning the MLS Cup and the Leagues Cup in 2024, the Frenchman was named MLS Coach of the Year after a season that had seen the club set a record number of points, goals scored, and wins.
Speaking after confirming his move to Celtic, ownership groups, the Haslam, Johnson and Edwards families, said: “While we strived to keep Wilfried in Columbus, he was clear that coaching Celtic is an important next step in his professional and personal journey, which we know first-hand will be limitless.”
Should Nancy become available once more, it can only be assumed that the MLS club will make an effort to reunite with their recently departed head coach.
Whether he is ready to call time on his efforts to manage in Europe, however, remains to be seen.