As Celtic continue to assess Wilfried Nancy as a candidate for the managerial job, more insight is emerging on how the Columbus Crew boss operates behind the scenes.
NBC reporter Orri Benatar, who has followed Nancy closely in MLS, outlined the coach’s habits when it comes to building his backroom staff. It’s clear Celtic would need to prepare for a very specific approach if they choose to move for him.
Nancy has built a reputation for sticking with familiar faces. His time at Columbus has been shaped by continuity and trust, especially after bringing key staff members with him from Montreal. That consistency is part of what makes his teams so cohesive, but it also means any club hiring him can expect a shake-up.
For Celtic, that could raise questions. The club’s structure is already being reshaped, and the next manager must slot into ongoing changes rather than overhaul everything in sight. Nancy’s style isn’t incompatible with that, but it would require the board to be clear about what they want and what they’re willing to adapt.
Benatar said: “Nancy loves bringing in guys he’s worked with before. He brought his whole staff from Montreal with him to Columbus.
”Not to mention, there’s definitely more of a French flavour in Columbus since he got here. The whole coaching staff has French experience.
”He has an affinity for his fellow countrymen, for sure, and that makes sense. Any manager would.
”Having that familiarity certainly helps, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he brought in more faces he already knows.
“It’s fairly typical in MLS that when a coach is hired, they tend to bring a lot of their assistants and strength guys with them. It’s almost like a full shift change.
”It would be interesting to see if he’d keep some of the guys already at your club, but maybe bring in a few from his staff. You could end up with a bit of a mishmash.”
Benatar’s comments give a clearer picture of what Celtic could expect if they made Nancy their next manager. He values loyalty, familiarity and shared footballing ideas above everything else. That kind of setup can speed up the early stages of a rebuild, but it also demands flexibility from the club hiring him.
Celtic already have established staff in place, from coaching to sports science, and recent changes behind the scenes point to a more connected structure. Bringing in too many new faces could complicate that process, so any appointment of Nancy would have to be managed carefully to avoid clashes.
At the same time, Nancy’s staffing approach has worked. Montreal improved under him. Columbus won trophies under him. His model isn’t unusual, especially in MLS, but it does show how much he leans on people who understand his methods.
If Celtic decide he’s the right man, the question won’t just be about tactics or recruitment. It’ll also be about how his staff blend into a club that’s trying to move in a unified direction. That balance will be key if Nancy ends up in Glasgow.
