O’Neill bowed out with a 1-0 win over Dundee and now hands over the reins to newly appointed Nancy

06:00, 04 Dec 2025Updated 08:43, 04 Dec 2025

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Wilfried Nancy has told Celtic fans he’s determined to build on the Martin O’Neill feel good factor after finally landing at Parkhead.

The 48-year-old was last night confirmed as boss on a two-and-a-half year deal after the Hoops stumped up more than £2million to Columbus Crew.

Record Sport revealed last month Celts had made Nancy their main target as permanent boss following the departure of Brendan Rodgers – and would be bringing his backroom team of Kwame Ampadu, Jules Gueguen and video performance coach Maxime Chalier.

Nancy will take charge of a resurgent side – with O’Neill leaving the team back joint TOP of the Premiership table.

The Northern Irishman made an emotional farewell after last night’s battling 1-0 win against Dundee and told fans he’d had the time of his life.

O’Neill will hand over the reins and Nancy is determined to maintain the momentum.

The new gaffer said: “I am so happy to be named Celtic manager, it is a massive honour for myself and my family.

“Before I say anything else I want to do one thing – I want to thank the great Martin O’Neill and Shaun Maloney for all they have done in recent weeks with the team. The job they have done has been fantastic.

“These guys have given so much to the club across so many years and I know our fans, like me, all recognise the brilliant job they have done during this recent period.

“They have my total respect and my total gratitude. I hope to meet them both very soon and thank them personally.

Incoming Celtic boss Wilfried Nancy

“Now it’s up to me to carry on this great work and carry our great club forward and I can’t wait to get going and become part of such a brilliant institution.

“Celtic is one of the world’s proper football clubs, real atmosphere and heart and soul, real high standards and real demands, which I am ready for.

“I know the history, I know the values of Celtic and I know what is expected of me on this journey. I know what Celtic means to so many people and my No. 1 aim will be simple – to give our fans a strong, exciting, attacking, winning football team they can be so proud of.

“I look forward to seeing all our fans very soon and I hope we can enjoy some great moments together.”

O’Neill addressed Celtic Park on the pitch after full-time with supporters saluting the club legend.

And he admitted it’s been a six-week thrill ride since stepping up in the wake of Brendan Rodgers’s departure as he hauled in Hearts’ eight point lead at the top, fired Celts to the League Cup Final and back into the hunt in the Europa League.

He said: “That’s been brilliant (to reel in Hearts). I must admit, even to cut the gap at all during the time would have been decent. But to bring it right back, that was fantastic.”

Nancy is set to take training today – but O’Neill will be on hand to help with any handover.

He said: “I’m sure that he will have been watching the matches in the last three or four games. He’ll form his own opinion of the team.

“That is absolutely fine. And if he seriously wants to speak to me about my thoughts in the last five or six weeks, whatever that may be, I’ve got absolutely no problem.

“But he may not. He’ll maybe have a totally different approach tactically, in every aspect of me, I genuinely don’t know.

“But I think I’ve left the players in good heart, with a bit of confidence about themselves now.”

Dundee boss Steven Pressley hailed his side for giving Celts a nervy night.

He said: “You have to be perfect when you come to Parkhead. We were not quite perfect but we were very good. There were a lot of positives.”