Wilfried Nancy, Celtic’s new manager, wasn’t familiar to many Hoops fans initially.
Understandably so – he has never coached in Europe, and has spent the last two decades working his way up the North American football ecosystem.
He now finds himself stepping into Martin O’Neill’s shoes at Celtic Park, after signing a two-and-a-half year deal in Glasgow.
Celtic’s managerial search lasted over five weeks, but once Nancy became the front-runner, it only seemed to be heading in one direction.
And now that his move is official, Nancy has opened up to the Parkhead support on his playing philosophy.
Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy on his playing philosophy
Nancy’s 3-4-3 system has earned plaudits across the Atlantic, with a high-energy, possession-based brand of football.
But who is in a better position to describe it than the man himself?
READ MORE: Wilfried Nancy sends profound personal message on why Celtic manager job is ‘perfect fit’
Wilfried Nancy – Credit: Celtic FC
Speaking in his first address with Celtic TV, he elaborated on his playing philosophy.
But firstly, he described it with one word: “Relationship. Between players. Relation. Football is about relation between players.
“So we don’t play tennis, we don’t play golf, we need – I call it – the non-verbal communication. We need to run together to score a goal, we need to run together to defend the goal.
“So that’s why my job is to create this environment for my players to connect together with clarity.
“My style of play is about the way I live, simple as that. I like to be pro-active in my life, I like to discover things, I like, also, to try things.
“Because the more you’re going to try things, the more you’re going to learn. The more you’re going to maximise your chance of having success in life.
“So what I want to do on the pitch is the same. Structure, the way we’re going to play, concept, how we’re going to run together, but at the same time, creativity within that.
“And the idea is the ball. We want to take care of the ball. What does that mean? It means that the ball is the only tool in our life, without talking, [with which] we can connect people.”
“So, we can use the ball to create emotions? Can we use the ball to score goals? Can we use the ball to have messages between us, and so on.
“So that’s why I want proactive football. I want the idea to manipulate the opposition to gain speed, and to attack the box.
“This is the idea. Knowing that you’re gonna have difficult moments, and when we have difficult moments, we have to be strong together, and resilient.
“And for me, it’s a life lesson. The way we behave when you suffer. You should be able to transmit it onto the pitch. With the ball, and without the ball.
“That’s why I like proactivity, and I try to entertain people. Everybody likes to win, I don’t know everybody who likes to lose.
“So the idea is to maximise our chance to win. How can we do it? By bringing clarity, by playing with passion, by becoming a better me all the time, to be your best.
“Because after that, the consequence is gonna come.”
Wilfried Nancy’s first address as Celtic manager
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