Wilfried Nancy takes off without saying goodbye
An Irish exit to Scotland
Wilfried Nancy ...
- Technical genius? Check.
- One of the greatest coaches in MLS history? Check.
- Oversaw three years of unprecedented glory in Columbus? Check.
- Destined to leave for a bigger job in Europe? Check.
- Philosopher king?
Nah.
If there was a player who played for Nancy and didn't revere him, I've yet to meet this player. Nancy took all the fire for his players and never threw a one of them under the bus, not publicly. If there was someone who worked with Nancy and didn't hold him in the highest regard, I haven't found this person. Nancy comes across as a beautiful human being, probably because he is.
Nancy took Columbus on a great ride. His Crew teams went 49-23-40 in league play, won an MLS Cup and a Leagues Cup and made it to the finals of the continental club championship. Extraordinary. Throughout, Nancy carried himself "with all humility," paid homage to the city and professed his soaring admiration for the fans who #SavedTheCrew.
Then, he took off without saying goodbye.
Wednesday, the Crew had a press conference to recognize the "official" retirement of legendary midfielder Darlington Nagbe. It was more of a retrospective and a tribute. Ownership, front-office types, sponsors and Crew alumni were on hand. Columbus city officials were on hand. Nagbe's family was there. It was all well-represented, emotionally moving and wholly deserved.
In the middle of it, Celtic FC of the Scottish Premiership made the official announcement that Nancy had been hired to be their next manager. News of Nancy's move had been bubbling for months, and it was basically a fait accompli for more than two weeks.
And the announcement came right in the middle of this tribute to Nagbe. It hit the socials just as Nagbe, was welling up as he talked about his mother's love.
Nancy's official exit was a perfect punctuation. Whether he had anything to do with the timing of it is almost immaterial. He did much for Columbus – and Columbus reciprocated, and loved him.
Then, he took off without saying goodbye. It was announced as Nagbe fought tears at an official event.
Good god.
There's nothing wrong with pursuing a new challenge. Hell, the way the Crew have operated under GM Issa Tall and Nancy, they'll sell anyone to anybody.
Cucho Hernandez wants to go to Spain? Sure, no problem. The Crew reportedly received a $16-million transfer fee – with sell-on rights – from Real Betis. I've always been dubious about that price. I've heard it was lower, and I don't dismiss the possibility because if Real Betis was offering less for the best all-around striker in MLS, that might not have mattered to Tall. Cucho wanted to go, so they got him gone.
Mark Wakefield
Might the Crew soon be cashing in on a Cucho sell-on clause?
Nancy wants to go to Scotland? Sure, no problem. Celtic paid an undisclosed price to get Nancy out of the final year of his contract in a package deal. Assistant Kwame Ampadu, fitness coach Jules Gueguen and video coach Maxime Chalier are going along with Nancy to Glasgow.
No problem. There are always succession plans in place, Tall tells us. Cucho's gone, Nancy and fair chunk of his coaching staff are gone – but that is the way of MLS. Talent bleeds away to Europe, and you move on.
There have been rumors bubbling that Nancy will be poaching Wessam Abou Ali for Celtic as soon as the winter transfer window opens. Celtic have the money to buy Abou Ali. That's one thing about Celtic – they're the Yankees of a league that is, by and large, probably the inferior to MLS. Celtic is loaded, and if Abou Ali wants to go to Glasgow, who's going to stand in his way?
Cucho's gone, Nancy and a chunk of his coaching staff are gone and maybe Abou Ali – who is supposed to play the part of Cucho in the Crew's future – isn't far behind. No problem, no problem, no problem. That is the way of MLS.
It's the job of Columbus fans to grab their ankles and take this because that is football. The Crew are making money off this. They got money for Cucho and Nancy and his staff and, if it so happens, they're going to get money for Abou Ali and Max Arsfsten, just as they got money for Aidan Morris.
Tim Bezbatchenko? I don't know. Probably.
But no problem! The Crew have more premium seating coming soon! Ticket prices are going up all over Scottish League Stadium, or whatever they're calling it now, in the Arena District. All is well!
Crew fans are hurting, but they're not stupid. They want to see how that money is spent in the succession plan. Starting with the new coach. If Tall hires a rookie for the sake of systemic succession, it had better work. But that is another column (coming soon).
There is nothing wrong with pursuing a new challenge. I have no doubt that Nancy will have the Scottish Premiership (not to be confused with the new stadium in the Arena District) under his thumb inside of two years. At that point, the EPL and Ligue 1 will be knocking down his door, and someone will be writing Celtic a big check, and Celtic supporters will be just as sad as we are in Columbus.
My hope is that when Nancy leaves Glasgow, he doesn't go in the same way he did in Columbus. My hope is that, after two years of taking about what an honor it was to coach the PSG of The Auld Country, and how they have the greatest supporters on the River Clyde, he at least doffs his tam before he heads out the back door.
Nancy did much for Columbus. We loved and appreciated him for it. Columbus, for its part, played an important role in Nancy's career. Our city was a stepping stone that allowed him to straddle an ocean.
He left like he stole something. It was, I dare say, disrespectful, especially for a philosopher king.
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Michael Arace
