Scottish Premiership
Next Celtic Permanent Manager Odds: Wilfried Nancy odds-on for Hoops job after dramatic price plunge
Columbus Crew head coach Wilfried Nancy has become the overwhelming favourite to take over as Celtic’s next permanent manager, following a major shift in the betting market with William Hill.
Nancy’s odds have collapsed to just 1/5 from 13/8 within 24 hours, making him the clear frontrunner to take charge at Parkhead. The French-Canadian coach has been heavily linked with the role since reports emerged that Celtic’s hierarchy are looking for a long-term successor to interim boss Martin O’Neill.
O’Neill, who stepped in on a short-term basis following Brendan Rodgers’ departure, is now second favourite at 4/1 to be appointed permanently. Bodø/Glimt’s Kjetil Knutsen has drifted to 9/2 from 2/1, while Ipswich Town’s Kieran McKenna has eased slightly from 10/1 to 12/1.
William Hill spokesperson Lee Phelps said: “There’s been another major shift in the next permanent Celtic manager market, with Wilfried Nancy’s price collapsing from 13/8 to as short as 1/5, as rumours suggest he could be heading to Parkhead.
“Nancy is now the hot favourite to take up the permanent position with the Hoops, but interim manager Martin O’Neill remains in the hunt for the role at 4/1.
“Kjetil Knutsen has been notably weak in the market, drifting from 2/1 to 9/2, while Kieran McKenna has also eased further to 12/1.”
Latest William Hill odds for Next Permanent Celtic Manager:
*Odds accurate at time of writing
Wilfried Nancy’s rapid ascent in the betting reflects growing confidence that the Columbus Crew boss could be on his way to Glasgow. The 48-year-old has built an impressive reputation in Major League Soccer, guiding Columbus to the MLS Cup in 2023 and establishing his side among the league’s best for possession-based, attacking football.
The French-born coach began his career in Canada with Montreal before moving to Columbus, where he’s earned plaudits for developing young talent and an expressive style of play. His success overseas has not gone unnoticed in Europe, and recent reports suggest Celtic see him as a strong fit for the Scottish Premiership.
Martin O’Neill’s name remains in the conversation after steadying the ship as interim boss. The 73-year-old is a club legend who led Celtic to domestic dominance in the early 2000s, but there are questions over whether the board will opt for a longer-term appointment this time around.
Elsewhere in the market, Kjetil Knutsen, who has achieved great success with Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt, appears to have fallen out of contention after interest in recent weeks. His odds have drifted significantly as speculation cools, while Ipswich manager Kieran McKenna, previously linked with several Premier League vacancies, also appears less likely to make the move to Glasgow.
If the speculation around who was going to replace Russell Martin at Rangers is anything to go by, we can surely expect a few twists and turns in the market for the next Celtic manager before an appointment is made.
