I assume I'm not the only one wondering how long Nancy is likely to stay in Columbus. I can't imagine he'll be fired (I have a low opinion of ownership, and even I don't think they're dumb enough to make such a colossal mistake), but at the same time I have to wonder if he sees the opportunity to continue to build something in Columbus now that Bez has moved on. Like a lot of people in here, I've had some critical words for Nancy. But he's undeniably one of the top coaches in MLS. The guy will have good options if he doesn't see a road ahead in Columbus.
This is what Nancy wanted! HE likes a small squad. HE doesn't want USL veterans on Crew 2. HE decided Hinestroza and DeJuan Jones weren't good enough to play here, but was fine penciling in JRR as a guaranteed starter until summer. HE wants Taha playing out of position at CM. When you leave the steak on the grill too long and it ends up well done, you don't get to blame that on Weber.
Yeah, I get it. As I said, I've had some critical comments for the guy. But, we did win MLS Cup with him at the helm, playing perhaps the greatest soccer that's ever been played by an MLS club. At this stage in his career, he may have his limitations as a coach. But he also undeniably has some pretty remarkable skills, too. To an extent that he'll have plenty of job offers at other clubs, if he's unhappy here. The greater point being, Bez may well have been a bigger variable in the club's secret sauce than we realized. Now that Bez is no longer here, I can't help but wonder if, in a sense and channeling my inner B.B. King, the thrill is gone for Nancy in Columbus. And about those "limitations," his focus on a small roster, or being ultra-picky about the types of players he wants, as I've said before, the man is 48 years old and raises the average IQ of just about every room he enters. I seriously doubt he's done learning and growing as a coach.
Absolutely, offers from MLS will be made for Nancy. I could be wrong, but I don’t think he’ll take them. Not many teams will give Nancy the level of input/control that he has here. Plus, his kids are happy and at an age where moving is stressful. I can’t think of a worse place to raise kids than L.A., especially girls. If Nancy leaves, my money would be on him heading to Europe or the UK.
I think Bez hires him at FC Lorient, when that job comes open. He spends a good while climbing up the Ligue 1 coaching ladder.
I would imagine a lot of GMs / sporting directors will be hesitant to want to work with Nancy. He will make their job much more difficult than many other coaches would. He just seems to be so particular with what he wants, and good percentage of it isn't even directly related to playing quality or style. As long as the relationship Nancy has with Issa and ownership doesn't sour too much, I really don't think the chances of him leaving soon are very high.
This is why it was better with Bez, he had a little more weight to throw around than Issa has in the same position.
Absolutely, he had more credibility with both Nancy and the Haslam’s. However, Nancy is not the new kid on the block anymore, he has power and he knows it. Even if Bez was still around, I think Nancy would’ve exerted more control this season.
But Bez might have gotten more done as far as getting someone in to replace Cucho quicker. He also might have been able to push a bit harder to get Ali in the winter before the season started.
Maybe so. And maybe Bez would have accepted that. Or not. Here's the thing, though. No one would have assumed that Bez could have coached the team. So why would anyone assume that Nancy could do Bez's job? I know I'm over-stating the point, but still. I've come to the conclusion that the partnership that I viewed Bez and Nancy (sometimes with McGuinness in the background) having may have been more complementary than I'd previously thought. That is, Nancy was the right brain to Bez's left. Together they were effing amazing. Separated, something's missing. Something foundational. Nancy is the creative, artistic, philosophical leader. Bez brought the hard data, the ability to be the deal-maker, the guy who literally helped write the rules. Whatever Tall might be, he ain't Bez. Most of us like being in charge. But at least at this point in his career, perhaps Nancy simply needs a complementary piece like Bez to work alongside. If that's the case, it's hard to be terribly optimistic bout the club's immediate future.
That article claims: "He also reportedly turned down the Saint-Etienne post just a few weeks ago." Um, okay. It also says "bookies" think he's second prefence behind someone else. So when the headline says Nancy is "a favourite" it seems to be more of a betting line kind of thing. Something tells me the Scottish Sun isn't the most reliable news source in international football.
I don't see it happening. I think what's more likely is that his name is being used for Celtic or other coaches to get what they want. Perhaps he is talking, but I get the feeling it isn't as serious as the hype machine may indicate.
There is a Columbus and Celtic connection through that McGuiness (or whatever his name was) scout we had when Bez was here who went to LAFC. Celtic has CCV and Trusty there. It's very plausible that they made a phone call, but I can't see Nancy going there. What a backwater Scotland has become.
ACH, YE TAKE THAUT BACK, YA WEE GIT WANKER! Seriously though, if Rodgers has had such a feud with the Tims’ board, I can’t see Nancy considering jumping to a job with potentially similar problems with management like he had with Joey the Milk Man in Montreal.
Hmm #Crew96 Wilfried Nancy on reports that he's a candidate for the open Scotland's Celtic FC job - "We have a game to prepare, I have nothing to say regarding this situation ... I cannot comment on rumors"(Question from Mike Arace)— Brianna Mac Kay (@brimackay15) October 30, 2025
Eh. Look, it doesn't sound like a smart move to me. So I doubt it's legit. Nancy responds along those same lines to pretty much all types of questions, as far as I recall. That said, he's going to leave at some point. Ligue 1 seems a logical destination. In any event, some place that's more of an obvious step-up from MLS than Scotland. Love me some single malt, but the league is a joke.
The MLS navel-gazing here still amazes me. Celtic and Rangers offer European exposure. Almost guaranteed Champions League games. Rangers made the Europa Final in 2022. Nancyball impresses in either competition... he becomes a target in multiple Euro leagues. Postecoglou turned the Celtic gig into the Tottenham job. Celtic currently have 100 million pounds in its accounts off player sales. They can invest for the right manager. However, Nancy appears to not handle criticism well, nor being media friendly. Requirements in Glasgow to succeed. So ... yeah ... grinding to fifth place in Ligue 1 or chasing another joke MLS Leagues Cup does feel like what he is comfortable with.
Some relatively successful MLS coaches do stick around forever. Arena comes to mind although between his national.team stints and the fact that hes a sour arrogant and disagreeable cuss, its not surprising if nobody is panting over him. But Sigi, Vermes for a while, Yallop, several others have made a career of MLS. So while everyone assumes that Nancy will split, if Jimmy is throwing money around and nobody offers him a tempting job with an ambitious club, I can see him just staying. And lets face it, no big money club is gonna hire him anyway. He can surely get offers from bottom drawer club who will hope he has a magic wand and will can his ass when they discover that he doesnt. At which.point hed have been better off staying in Columbus making a million+. Add to that the fact that, far from being the miracle working guru of footie hes been here the last couple years, his team is currently laying an egg and looks very likely to continue doing so for at least a while or until they hire a GM who can do the job. So his window may be closing too. Im not too sure that anybody decent is going to want to try and drum up fan enthusiasm by bringing in the coach of the 12th best team in a second rate league.
He shouldn't comment. Leaves his options open, potentially gives him leverage for more money and/or power here.
Fair enough. I said the league is a joke - which I think it is - but will conceded that Rangers and Celtic are different animals. It still feels a bad fit for me. The broader argument being made is that for all his positive attributes, Nancy's not proven that he's capable or growth as a manager right now. He likes what he likes, and had real success in sticking with that approach. My Ligue 1 reference was made implying that he needs opportunities to grow if he's to become a truly exceptional manager. Not that it should represent his ceiling or dream job. Porter's challenges in this area were both intellectual and attitudinal. Nancy certainly has the brain to become a top flight manager. Whether he has the attitude and ability to evolve/grow hasn't been determined.