He has never managed in Europe, far less in the Glasgow goldfish bowl. So Nancy, if he is to be successful, is going to need help. From his board of directors, from his players and from the Celtic support.
There is a possible parallel here with the first few months of Ange Postecoglou’s reign. He too was a relatively unheralded arrival back in the summer of 2021, although far more experienced and successful than Nancy, who took his first-ever management job in senior football that same year.
The Australian’s style of play was immediately appealing to a large section of the Celtic support, who then gave him the latitude to lose half of his first six Premiership matches.
From a slow start, he was able to overhaul the league leaders by February and never looked back.
Nancy’s problem is he is coming to the table mid-season, with a weaker squad.
He will have to rely heavily on his captain Calum McGregor. The man who’s been an integral part of a successful dressing room for well over a decade now.
Rodgers and Postecoglou leaned on McGregor heavily. Doubtless, Nancy will do the same, at least initially, until the Frenchman finds a foothold in the Scottish game.
He developed Alastair Johnston at Montreal before selling the right-back to Celtic. Is the Canadian a future Celtic captain under his old coach? One for the future that.
As for relationships with the Celtic directors, two words should help Nancy realise the importance of managing upwards – Brendan Rodgers.
It was all going swimmingly for the talismanic Northern Irishman, laden with trophies bedecked in green and white ribbons. Until it was not – and the club’s major shareholder let rip.
Nancy will know, now more than ever in Celtic’s recent history, that the current board is not popular with elements of the club’s fanbase but can give him the tools he needs to melt the ongoing ice if he can keep them all onside.
