Celtic Faces Challenges Under Wilfried Nancy Despite Leadership Changes
Celtic, under the management of Wilfried Nancy, experienced four consecutive defeats as of late December 2025, prompting discussions about the optics of the team's performance versus the aspects within control. During this period, Peter Lawwell stepped down as Celtic chair, citing abuse amid the club's poor form under Nancy.
Nancy had a brief 15-minute handover conversation with former Celtic manager Martin O'Neill before taking the role. Celtic's chief executive, Michael Nicholson, identified Nancy as the club's No. 1 candidate at the time of appointment. Although Nancy's win percentage was zero following this sequence of games, the article notes that 14 days and four matches are insufficient metrics to fully assess his tenure.
In the latest match, Celtic lost 2-1 to Dundee United after leading at half-time. Notably, Daizen Maeda missed a critical late header, while Dundee United secured their first victory in eight games. Looking ahead, Celtic faces a challenging run of fixtures including matches against Hearts, Roma, and a cup final.
Nancy’s longtime assistant, Kwame Ampadu, who is the father of player Ethan Ampadu, has connections to Celtic through Paul Tisdale, the club's head of football operations. Tisdale previously gave Ethan Ampadu his debut at Exeter, highlighting intertwined professional relationships within the current setup.
