Wilfried Nancy vows to meet demands of fans as Celtic appointment is confirmed

Wilfried Nancy declared himself ready to meet the “high standards and real demands” of the Celtic fans after being confirmed as the club’s new manager.

The appointment was announced just before Martin O’Neill’s final game as caretaker manager, against Dundee at Celtic Park.

Nancy arrives following a protracted move from Columbus Crew, where he won the MLS Cup.

The Frenchman described his appointment as a “massive honour” and thanked O’Neill and Shaun Maloney for their “fantastic” work in interim charge.

“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,” he added on the club’s official website.

“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.”

Nancy, who has signed a contract until the summer of 2028, added: “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 number one aim will be simple – to give our fans a strong, exciting, attacking, winning football team they can be so proud of.”

Chief executive Michael Nicholson added: “We have been aware of Wilfried and his quality of work for some time – he was our number one candidate when we began the process of appointing a new manager and we are delighted that he has agreed to join the club.

“We will give Wilfried every support to face the challenges ahead, with our aim as always being to deliver the success for the club which our supporters deserve, this season and beyond.”

Principal shareholder Dermot Desmond branded the 48-year-old Frenchman, who has also coached Montreal, as a “hugely talented manager”.

The Irishman added: “He is a man who absolutely understands the demands at Celtic, he is a man of real humility but also someone with his own ideas, his own vision and such a personal drive and desire to do well for the club and our supporters.

“Everyone at the club will unite strongly behind Wilfried as we move forward and we will ensure we will give him our unswerving support as we strive to achieve our objectives.”

Desmond added: “I want to add my heartfelt thanks to Martin for all he has done in recent weeks. He was the man we hoped could bring us through these last few weeks positively and together with Shaun and our other coaches and our players, they have done a wonderful job.

“I will always hold Martin in such high regard for what he has done for Celtic and for what he is as a man – a man of such professionalism and integrity and someone who undoubtedly will always have the best interests of Celtic in his heart.”