Wilfried Nancy on the verge of Strasbourg return after Celtic disaster

Wilfried Nancy’s nightmare stint at Celtic Park is about to become a distant memory. The 49-year-old French coach is closing in on a sensational opportunity to take over at Ligue 1 side Strasbourg, who are owned by the BlueCo consortium. Nancy’s reputation took a massive hit after he lasted just 33 days in Glasgow. Hired mid-season, he tried to force his possession-based system on a squad that wasn’t ready. The players didn’t buy in, and results nosedived — six defeats in eight matches. Celtic pulled the plug in January, and Nancy has been waiting for the right chance to rebuild his career ever since. Despite that humbling experience, his previous work in Major League Soccer still commands respect. He turned the Montreal Impact into genuine contenders and later led Columbus Crew to a title while playing some of the most attractive football in North America. That body of work has kept him on the radar. Now, according to reports in France — including from the well-connected L’Equipe — Nancy is a serious candidate for the Strasbourg vacancy. The job opened up after Gary O’Neil was poached by newly promoted Premier League side Ipswich Town. BlueCo, who also own Chelsea, have made fluency in both English and French a condition for the next coach. That plays directly into Nancy’s hands. Initial discussions took place last week, and a face-to-face meeting is scheduled for today in the United States. Two other unnamed candidates remain in contention, but Nancy is believed to be a frontrunner. He previously held talks with Lorient, but Strasbourg appears to be the more realistic and ambitious project now. With BlueCo’s resources behind them, the Alsatians offer a platform that could finally give Nancy the European redemption he’s been craving.