Wilfried Nancy could be set for a return to management in France, with Lorient reportedly showing interest in the former Celtic boss.
According to L’Equipe, the Ligue 1 side are looking at Nancy as they assess possible replacements for Olivier Pantaloni. The 49-year-old has been out of work since leaving Celtic in January, after a short and difficult spell in Glasgow.
Nancy arrived at Celtic with a growing reputation after his work in Major League Soccer. He previously coached CF Montréal before leading Columbus Crew to the MLS Cup in 2023, a success which helped raise his profile well beyond North America.
That background now appears to have caught the attention of Lorient’s ownership group. The French club are owned by Black Knight Football Club, who also have links to Bournemouth, and Nancy’s experience in the United States is understood to be part of his appeal.
The report claims Nancy has already held discussions with Lorient sporting director Laurent Koscielny as the club works through its managerial options.
Lorient had also been linked with Will Still and Stéphane Gilli, but both appear to be heading elsewhere, with Still expected to join Auxerre and Gilli moving towards Angers.
Nancy is not the only name being considered. Le Mans boss Patrick Videira is also on Lorient’s list after guiding the club through back-to-back promotions from the National to Ligue 1.
However, any move for Videira may be more complicated. He still has a year left on his Le Mans deal and has also attracted interest from Lens.
For Nancy, the Lorient interest could offer a quick route back into the game after his Celtic spell ended badly. His time in Scotland did not work, but his MLS record clearly still carries weight.
