Wilfried Nancy's move to Celtic means as much for MLS as it does for him

MLS Loses One of Its Own: The Wilfried Nancy Effect

Wilfried Nancy is the latest casualty in the great exodus of top MLS managers to Europe, leaving behind a legacy that will be felt for years to come. While the Frenchman's move to Celtic may not be a shock to some, it serves as a poignant reminder of the ever-widening gap between North America and the rest of the world.

Nancy's departure from Columbus Crew is a double-edged sword - on one hand, his teams were always exciting to watch, with a style that earned them a reputation for being "Nancyball." On the other, losing someone who embodied the league's growth and progress will be deeply felt. The question remains, however, whether Nancy's exit will ultimately benefit or harm MLS in the long run.

The reality is that European football has become a breeding ground for top managers, with success at clubs like Celtic opening doors to even bigger opportunities. Scottish football is closer to the Premier League than MLS ever could be, and it seems only a matter of time before the league's brightest stars begin to make the jump across the pond.

So who will be next? Will Steve Cherundolo, currently set to return as Los Angeles FC head coach in 2026, take the leap, or perhaps Mikey Varas, who led San Diego to unexpected success under Gregg Berhalter's guidance? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: if another manager emerges like Nancy, European clubs will be quick to pounce.

For now, MLS fans will miss a strong personality and a coach who was unafraid to speak his mind. Nancy may not have had the traditional résumé of other top managers, but he proved himself to be one of the league's most innovative thinkers. His famous line, "impossible is an opinion," has become a rallying cry for fans across North America.

As Celtic takes on Nancy, they face both excitement and skepticism from their supporters. The club's board is under pressure to deliver results, and some see the Frenchman as the cheap option - a far cry from the likes of Brendan Rodgers or Martin O'Neill, who have held the fort on an interim basis in recent weeks.

Yet, we all know that Nancy has always had a knack for proving people wrong. From his early days as CF Montreal head coach to his triumphant MLS Cup win with Columbus Crew, he has consistently shown himself to be one of the league's most progressive thinkers. If another manager emerges who can inspire similar excitement and growth, European clubs will undoubtedly take notice.

As the great football nation of France continues its global expansion, it seems that North America is finally starting to join the conversation. Will MLS ever reach the same heights as Europe? It remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: Wilfried Nancy's departure leaves a void that can never be filled - and his legacy will continue to inspire fans across the continent for years to come.

MLS is losing its magic , it seems like all these top managers are leaving for Europe . But you know what? I think this is an opportunity for growth and innovation ! Maybe MLS can learn from their European counterparts and create a new style of football that's uniquely North American . And who knows, maybe Steve Cherundolo or Mikey Varas will be the next big thing . The fact that Wilfried Nancy has already inspired fans across the continent with his "impossible is an opinion" mantra is proof that there are talented managers waiting in the wings. So let's focus on the positives and celebrate the growth of our beloved MLS ️!

sad face to see another top MLS manager leave for Europe ... it's like we're losing our own version of Klopp or Pochettino ! Nancy's "Nancyball" style was so much fun to watch , and his passion for the game was contagious . Losing him will definitely be felt in MLS , but it's also a sign that we're moving forward as a league ... maybe we'll finally start attracting more top talent from around the world ? ️ Only time will tell

MLs losing top managers is kinda sad I mean its expected but its still gonna hurt for the teams who had them . The MLS has grown so much in the past decade, it's crazy how quickly things are changing . I think it's awesome that they're getting attention from Europe though, it's like they're finally on the map ! Steve Cherundolo is gonna be a great coach if he returns to LAFC, I'm hyped ! Mikey Varas is also super talented, we need more of him . The MLS needs managers who are unafraid to speak their minds like Nancy was . Celtic's fans gotta be hyped for the new season though, they've got some big shoes to fill .

its all about supply and demand you see when top managers like nancy are poached by european clubs, it creates a domino effect where more of them start looking for greener pastures in scotland or elsewhere . but at the same time its a testament to mls progress that these guys even have a choice, i mean think about it, 20 years ago who would've thought that north america would be competing with the best in europe? but what we need now is more of these 'nancy types' who can bring innovation and excitement back to the league

"Change is the law of life...and those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future." We're seeing this play out in MLS, as top managers start to look beyond North America's borders. European clubs are offering attractive opportunities, and it's only a matter of time before we see more of them take the leap. Will Steve Cherundolo be next? Only time will tell.

I think its crazy how fast top managers are jumping ship to europe lol like we just started getting them back in mls after a 10+ year drought now theyre leaving again what can you do? its like they're chasing that elusive euro glory or something but at the end of the day i still love watching them play and seeing that nancyball style

I was just thinking about what my friend told me about trying out this new coffee shop downtown... apparently, they have this amazing cold brew that's supposed to be super good for you anyway, back to MLS... it's weird how fast these managers are jumping ship to Europe... like, I get it, they're chasing success and all that, but can't we just support them here first? I mean, I loved watching Wilfried Nancy's teams play... "Nancyball" was always so much fun to watch what's next for MLS, huh?

The thought of losing someone who was unafraid to speak their mind & bring excitement to the game is sad What if another manager like him comes along & inspires similar growth & success in MLS?

This guy Wilfried Nancy just left Columbus Crew and now he's off to Celtic in Scotland ! That's crazy talk! European football is all about making moves and getting the best talent, so I don't think this is a huge deal... but at the same time, losing someone like him who was super popular in MLS is weird. He had that whole "Nancyball" thing going on and his teams were always so much fun to watch ! Now we're gonna see if other top managers are gonna jump ship too? Like Steve Cherundolo or Mikey Varas? Either way, it's gonna be interesting...

The more i think about it, the more i'm convinced that mls is gonna struggle to keep top managers in-house

we're basically competing with top european leagues for talent, but our salaries and resources just can't compete

i mean, wilfried nancy's move to celtic was a no-brainer - it's not like he had any real options left in the us

and don't even get me started on the so-called "development" of mls coaches - most of them are just glorified cupcake winners

anyway, back to nancy... i think the key is for mls teams to adapt and evolve their strategies to attract top managers

we need more than just fancy graphics and empty promises

it's time for us to take a page out of europe's playbook and invest in our own coaching infrastructure

It's about time we got rid of this "Nancyball" nonsense . All that flair and excitement was just a facade, hiding a lack of actual substance on the pitch. The fact that MLS is losing top talent to Europe is just proof that our league is still struggling to keep up with the rest of the world.

And don't even get me started on Steve Cherundolo - he's always been a bit too cozy with the big clubs, if you ask me . And Mikey Varas? Please, he's just a flash in the pan, waiting for his 15 minutes of fame to come and go.

The real question is, how long can we expect European clubs to keep coming after our MLS talent? I'd say it's only a matter of time before they start poaching all the best young players, leaving us with scraps.

I heard MLS is like a French patisserie, it looks all nice on the outside but once you dig in, it's all empty calories . But seriously, Wilfried Nancy's departure is a tough pill to swallow, he was one of the few coaches who knew how to make the game exciting and fun to watch.

I'm not saying he was perfect, but come on, "impossible is an opinion" that's some next level thinking right there. But for real though, it's gonna be tough to fill those shoes, especially with all the top talent flocking to Europe like a bunch of migratory birds .

Los Angeles FC better step up their game and make sure Steve Cherundolo knows he can't just coast on his dad's name . Mikey Varas needs to prove himself too, or else he'll be singing the same song as poor Wilfried Nancy - "good riddance" .

the whole league is gonna lose its magic once all these top managers jump ship . i mean think about it, they're not just leaving their jobs, they're basically being poached by european clubs who want a piece of the action. and what's left behind? a bunch of mid-tier teams struggling to keep up with the league's new standard . nancy was definitely one for the books, but at the end of the day, his departure is just another reminder that mls can't compete with the european club money

I gotta say, this Wilfried Nancy guy was a game changer for MLS . He brought that high-energy style of play and was always willing to take risks, which I loved watching. But at the same time, I know he's got some big European clubs sniffing around him and it's only a matter of time before another top manager makes the jump . It's gonna be tough for MLS fans to see people like Nancy and others leave, but it also shows that we're getting closer to being on the same level as Europe. We'll just have to keep innovating and pushing ourselves to reach new heights

its crazy how mls is losin these top talent managers to europe its like they're jumpin from a boat in the middle of the atlantic lol. cant say im surprised tho, european football has always been the goal for these coaches...like steve cherundolo said he's comin back to los angeles fc but we'll see if that happens

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that another top manager is leaving MLS . I mean, it's not like we didn't know this was coming, but still... Wilfried Nancy was a unique guy and his teams were always so much fun to watch . But at the same time, I'm curious to see how Steve Cherundolo or Mikey Varas will fare as coaches in Europe .

It's like, European football is just a whole different beast compared to MLS . The competition, the pace of the game... it's all so much faster and more intense. So yeah, I'm excited to see which other manager will make the jump next .

One thing that's for sure though, Wilfried Nancy was definitely one of the most innovative thinkers in the league . His "impossible is an opinion" quote has become this rallying cry for fans across North America . So yeah, he may not have had the traditional résumé, but he proved himself to be one of the best .

I'm still holding out hope that MLS will reach the same heights as Europe ... but I guess we'll just have to wait and see .

I don’t usually comment but I have to say, losing someone like Wilfried Nancy is really gonna hurt MLS. He was one of the few managers who actually knew how to play attractive football . The problem is that all these top coaches are heading to Europe and it's making me wonder if we'll ever be able to compete with them on the pitch. I mean, we can talk about innovation and progress all we want but at the end of the day, you need people who actually know how to win trophies . Steve Cherundolo or Mikey Varas might be our next hope but they're gonna have a tough act to follow if they wanna live up to Nancy's legacy .

the loss of wilfried nancy is a big deal for mls, he was a breath of fresh air with his unapologetic style , but i think its also a sign that the league needs to step up its game if it wants to compete with europe ️. we cant just sit back and watch top managers leave for bigger clubs without trying to attract them ourselves . nancy's departure will be felt for years to come, not just by mls fans, but by the entire sporting community .

the biggest question now is who will be next? will it be steve cherundolo or mikey varas? ️ only time will tell, but one thing's for sure: we need more innovators like nancy in mls to push the league forward .

just think about it, mls is losing its identity and its leaders are running to europe it's like they're trying to keep up with the bigger leagues or something. nancy was a game changer for columbus crew and now he's gone to scottish football... meanwhile, steve cherundolo is just going to try to fill his shoes? we need more people like wilfried nancy, not just some guy who's trying to ride the coattails of success. and what about the fans? are they just supposed to sit back and watch mls get devoured by european football?