Wilfried Nancy is among the foreign-based coaches under consideration for the Celtic job in a wide-open race to succeed Brendan Rodgers at Parkhead.
The Scottish champions are assessing a number of long-term options, with Martin O’Neill appointed as interim, which has given them time to find the right candidate.
Club Brugge’s Nicky Hayen has spoken publicly about the job – saying “never say never in football” – but he is also happy at the Belgian club, while Nancy has emerged as a coach admired at Celtic.
It is understood that Nancy, 48, is on the initial shortlist of possible candidates this week after his work at Columbus Crew in the United States. The French-born coach won the MLS Cup in 2023 having previously taken CF Montréal to the Concacaf Champions League in his first managerial job.
Nancy, who also won the 2021 Canadian Championship, had been an assistant at Montreal to Thierry Henry before he was promoted when the Arsenal great departed.
As reported by the Telegraph Sport this week, former Celtic striker Robbie Keane is on the shortlist to succeed Rodgers. Keane is at Ferencvaros and won the Hungarian title last season, although the level of compensation for clubs to land him is unknown.
O’Neill, assisted by his former midfielder Shaun Maloney, has made it clear he only expects to lead the club on a short-term basis and also suggested the club are looking for a younger coach.
Sources at Ipswich Town do not expect Kieran McKenna to leave Portman Road for Celtic, with the Northern Irishman looking to get the club promoted back to the Premier League. Ange Postecoglou has also been linked with becoming the next manager to return to the club, with Rodgers, Neil Lennon and now O’Neill coming back for second spells at Parkhead.
