Wilfried Nancy leaves lasting MLS impact after making Celtic move | OneFootball

Former Columbus Crew boss Wilfried Nancy was unveiled as the new Celtic head coach this week; a move most Columbus and MLS fans will feel is unsurprising and well-deserved. 

The Frenchman leaves a hole in MLS, however. The league is becoming increasingly known for flair players and as a landing spot for some of Europe and South America's biggest stars these days, but truly innovative coaches are rare. 

Most known for his time in Columbus after a short stint with CF Montréal, Nancy built a team known for high-IQ, all-action football. 

Despite having one of the lowest budgets in the league at the time, the Crew dominated MLS opposition with relative ease on their way to an MLS Cup title in 2023.

They led MLS in goals scored, average possession, and other attacking categories such as shots, shots on target, and dribbles per game.

System-first managers are becoming trendy in the world of football, but not all of them come with a substance that is made to look easy, like Nancy's sides in MLS. But for Nancy, it's all about the players.

"The vision that I have, when it comes to empowering my players, is a way of life," he told The Athletic back in 2023.

"As a coach, as a player, and as a person. Because to empower my players and convince them to do what I want them to do, with a lot of creativity, they have to be brave and courageous, and they have to be able to put their ego on the side sometimes."

With a handful of major trophies in his duffle, Nancy will leave North America with a void to be filled.

It may take some time before we see a coach turn a team into serial winners with arguably the most identifiable style in the league.

📸 Jason Mowry - 2025 Getty Images