Wilfried Nancy

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Wilfried Nancy

| image = Wilfried Nancy (cropped).jpg

| caption = Nancy in 2023

| full_name =

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|4|9|df=y}}

| birth_place = Le Havre, France

| height = 1.85 m

| position = Defender

| currentclub = Columbus Crew (head coach)

| collegeyears1 = 2005

| college1 = UQAM Citadins

| collegecaps1 =

| collegegoals1 =

| years1 = 1995–1998

| clubs1 = Toulon

| caps1 = 9

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 1998–1999

| clubs2 = Beaucairois

| caps2 = 4

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 1999–2000

| clubs3 = Raon-l'Étape

| caps3 = 3

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2000–2001

| clubs4 = Ivry

| caps4 =

| goals4 =

| years5 = 2001–2002

| clubs5 = Noisy-le-Sec

| caps5 = 8

| goals5 = 1

| years6 = 2002–2003

| clubs6 = Châtellerault

| caps6 = 2

| goals6 = 0

| years7 = 2003–2005

| clubs7 = Orléans

| caps7 =

| goals7 =

| manageryears1 = 2021–2022

| managerclubs1 = CF Montréal

| manageryears2 = 2023–

| managerclubs2 = Columbus Crew

}}

Wilfried Nancy (born 9 April 1977) is a French professional football manager and former football player who is the currently head coach of Major League Soccer club Columbus Crew. During his tenure at the Crew, he led the team to win MLS Cup 2023 and the 2024 Leagues Cup and finish as runners-up in the 2024 CONCACAF Champions Cup.{{cite news |last=Mac Kay |first=Brianna |date=August 25, 2024 |title=Columbus Crew wins Leagues Cup title 3-1 vs LAFC behind Cucho Hernandez efforts |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2024/08/25/leagues-cup-final-columbus-crew-vs-los-angeles-fc-live-updates-results/74922655007/ |work=The Columbus Dispatch |accessdate=August 25, 2024}}

Early life

Nancy was born in Le Havre to a Guadeloupean father and Senegalese-Cape Verdean mother. His father was in the French navy, and Nancy therefore spent his early childhood frequently moving, with time in Guadeloupe, Martinique, Djibouti and Réunion. At the age of 11, his family moved to Toulon and there he started playing organized soccer before moving to the academy of Toulon at the age of 14.{{Cite news|url=https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/soccer/2021-04-16/wilfried-nancy/un-grand-voyageur-au-gouvernail.php|title=Wilfried Nancy | Un grand voyageur au gouvernail|date=16 April 2021|website=La Presse|last1=Duchesneau |first1=Frédérick }}{{Cite web |last=DeVille |first=Chris |date=21 February 2024 |title='Impossible is an Opinion': Crew Coach Wilfried Nancy's Unlikely Journey to the MLS Cup |url=https://www.columbusmonthly.com/story/lifestyle/features/2024/02/21/how-first-year-columbus-crew-coach-wilfried-nancy-created-unlikely-path-to-the-mls-cup/72685139007/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240311205855/https://www.columbusmonthly.com/story/lifestyle/features/2024/02/21/how-first-year-columbus-crew-coach-wilfried-nancy-created-unlikely-path-to-the-mls-cup/72685139007/ |archive-date=11 March 2024 |access-date=11 March 2024 |website=Columbus Monthly |language=en-US}}

Career

Nancy played professionally in France as a defender, and began his career with Toulon. He also had stints at various amateur and semi-professional clubs, including Beaucairois, Raon-l'Étape, Ivry, Noisy-le-Sec, Châtellerault, and Orléans before moving to Canada in August 2005 to play with the UQAM team.{{Cite web|url=http://actualites.uqam.ca/2021/wilfried-nancy-ancien-citadin-cf-montreal|title=L'ancien Citadin Wilfried Nancy à la tête du CF Montréal|website=Actualités UQAM|trans-title=At the head of CF Montreal|language=fr|first=Jean-François|last=Ducharme|date=8 March 2021}}{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=27 June 2001 |title=Première recrue pour Noisy-le-Sec |url=https://www.leparisien.fr/seine-saint-denis-93/premiere-recrue-pour-noisy-le-sec-27-06-2001-2002260593.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415202319/https://www.leparisien.fr/seine-saint-denis-93/premiere-recrue-pour-noisy-le-sec-27-06-2001-2002260593.php |archive-date=15 April 2024 |access-date=15 April 2024 |website=leparisien.fr |language=FR}}

Managerial career

In 2005, Nancy became a coach for Collège Stanislas, while at the same time playing for his university team, UQAM Citadins. His time at UQAM was brief, but remarkable, as he was voted most valuable player in Quebec, in addition to being named to the first all-star team in Quebec and Canada. He also helped the Citadins finish second in the Quebec conference.{{Cite web |last=Ducharme |first=Jean-Francois |date=26 February 2021 |title=À la tête du CF Montréal {{!}} UQAM |url=https://actualites.uqam.ca/2021/wilfried-nancy-ancien-citadin-cf-montreal/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228040218/https://actualites.uqam.ca/2021/wilfried-nancy-ancien-citadin-cf-montreal/ |archive-date=28 February 2023 |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=actualites.uqam.ca |language=fr-FR}} After retiring as a footballer, Nancy became a full-time coach in 2006 and started coaching AAA soccer; the highest amateur league level in Québec. He coached Québec's provincial teams from 2007, and was also assistant technical director of the Association régionale de soccer de la Rive-Sud in 2008.{{Cite web |date=8 March 2021 |title=MLS : Wilfried Nancy nommé entraîneur-chef du CF Montréal |url=http://www.rds.ca/soccer/impact/mls-wilfried-nancy-nomme-entraineur-chef-du-cf-montreal-1.10868532 |access-date=25 February 2023 |website=RDS.ca |language=fr}}

He was part of the Montreal Impact Academy since its inception in 2011 starting with the U18s, then the U21s in 2014, followed by the U16s from 2014 to 2015. He was promoted to assistant coach for the first team on 7 January 2016.{{Cite web |date=8 March 2021 |title=Wilfried Nancy named CF Montréal head coach |url=https://www.cfmontreal.com/en/post/2021/03/08/wilfried-nancy-named-cf-montr%C3%A9al-head-coach |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308191531/https://www.cfmontreal.com/en/post/2021/03/08/wilfried-nancy-named-cf-montr%C3%A9al-head-coach |url-status=dead |archive-date=8 March 2021 |work=CF Montréal}}{{Cite web |last=Bogert |first=Tom |date=8 March 2021 |title=CF Montréal explain why Wilfried Nancy was the right choice to replace Thierry Henry |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/cf-montr-al-explain-why-wilfried-nancy-was-right-choice-replace-thierry-henry |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415201109/https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/cf-montr-al-explain-why-wilfried-nancy-was-right-choice-replace-thierry-henry |archive-date=15 April 2024 |access-date=15 April 2024 |website=mlssoccer |language=}}

On 8 March 2021, following Thierry Henry's resignation, Nancy was promoted to head coach for CF Montréal becoming the club's first coach following their re-branding from the Impact name.{{Cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Le-francais-wilfried-nancy-maintenu-au-poste-d-entraineur-du-cf-montreal-mls-apres-le-depart-de-thierry-henry/1230435|title=Le Français Wilfried Nancy maintenu au poste d'entraîneur du CF Montréal (MLS) après le départ de Thierry Henry|website=L'Équipe|date=8 March 2021|language=fr|trans-title=Frenchman Wilfried Nancy retained as CF Montreal (MLS) coach after Thierry Henry's departure}} On 28 May 2021, after just seven games as head coach, it was announced that CF Montréal had exercised its option on Nancy's contract for the 2022 season.{{Cite web |last=Lévesque |first=Dave |date=28 May 2021 |title=Wilfried Nancy gardera son poste en 2022 |url=https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2021/05/28/wilfried-nancy-gardera-son-poste-en-2022 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230228024206/https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2021/05/28/wilfried-nancy-gardera-son-poste-en-2022 |archive-date=28 February 2023 |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=Le Journal de Montréal}}{{Cite web |last=Bogert |first=Tom |date=28 May 2021 |title=CF Montréal exercise Wilfried Nancy's 2022 contract option |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/cf-montreal-exercise-wilfried-nancy-s-2022-contract-option |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}} Nancy lead CF Montréal to the final of the 2021 Canadian Championship, beating Toronto FC 1–0, qualifying them for the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League.{{Cite web |title=CF Montreal defeats Toronto FC to win 2021 Canadian Championship |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/soccer/cf-montreal-defeats-toronto-fc-win-2021-canadian-championship/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=Sportsnet.ca |language=en}}

During the 2022 Major League Soccer season, Nancy's CF Montréal lost in the quarterfinals of the CONCACAF Champions League to Cruz Azul.{{Cite web |last=D'Amours |first=Tristan |date=16 March 2022 |title=Recap: CF Montréal 1, Cruz Azul 1 (1-2 aggregate: CAZ advance) |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/recap-cf-montreal-1-cruz-azul-1-1-2-aggregate |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}} On 9 July, Nancy and Montréal owner Joey Saputo got into a verbal altercation, with Saputo wanting to voice his frustration with the club's loss to bottom of the table Sporting KC. After that incident, Nancy requested to leave immediately, but changed his mind after discussing it with his players.{{Cite web |last=Laradi |first=Elias |date=6 December 2022 |title=Is Nancy's Exit A Sign Of Bigger Problems At CF Montreal? |url=https://northerntribune.ca/wilfried-nancy-cf-montreal-problems/ |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=Northern Tribune |language=en-US}}{{Cite news |last=Téotonio |first=Jean-François |date=6 December 2022 |title=" J'ai été loyal envers le club ", affirme Wilfried Nancy |language=fr-CA |work=La Presse |url=https://www.lapresse.ca/sports/soccer/2022-12-06/j-ai-ete-loyal-envers-le-club-affirme-wilfried-nancy.php |access-date=28 February 2023}} Nancy finished the 2022 regular season with the second-best record in the East, while setting numerous franchise-records including 20 wins (with an MLS record 11 road wins) and 65 points in the regular season.{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=12 October 2022 |title=A record-breaking season for CF Montréal |url=https://en.cfmontreal.com/news/a-record-breaking-season-for-cf-montreal |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415045230/https://en.cfmontreal.com/news/a-record-breaking-season-for-cf-montreal |archive-date=15 April 2024 |access-date=15 April 2024 |website=CF Montréal |language=en}} During the playoffs, CF Montréal would end up losing to New York City FC in the conference semifinals.{{Cite web |date=23 October 2022 |title=NYCFC down Montreal to keep title defense alive |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/report/_/gameId/654711 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230225060715/https://www.espn.com/soccer/report?gameId=654711 |archive-date=25 February 2023 |access-date=25 February 2023 |website=ESPN}} Nancy narrowly lost the MLS Coach of the Year award, losing by one-tenth of a percentage point to Jim Curtin.{{Cite web |last=mlssoccer |date=25 October 2022 |title=Philadelphia Union's Jim Curtin named 2022 MLS Sigi Schmid Coach of the Year |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/philadelphia-union-s-jim-curtin-named-2022-mls-sigi-schmid-coach-of-the-year |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}} Due to a clause in his contract, Nancy's 2023 contract option was automatically triggered by the club making the 2022 MLS Cup Playoffs.{{Cite web |last=Bogert |first=Tom |date=25 October 2022 |title=Sources: Columbus Crew make CF Montréal's Wilfried Nancy head coach target |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/sources-columbus-crew-make-cf-montreal-s-wilfried-nancy-head-coach-target |access-date=28 February 2023 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}}

Nancy was announced as the Columbus Crew head coach on 6 December 2022, after the Crew were required to compensate Montréal since Nancy was still under contract.{{Cite web |title='There is everything here to do something great': Wilfried Nancy introduced as Crew coach |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2022/12/06/wilfried-nancy-leaves-cf-montreal-to-become-columbus-crew-coach/69704543007/ |access-date=25 February 2023 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=ColumbusCrew.com |title=Columbus Crew names Wilfried Nancy as Head Coach {{!}} Columbus Crew |url=https://www.columbuscrew.com/news/columbus-crew-names-wilfried-nancy-as-head-coach |access-date=25 February 2023 |website=ColumbusCrew.com |language=en}} In his first season as coach, the Crew finished third in the regular season, playing what observers described as an attractive style of football.{{Cite web |last=Rueter |first=Jeff |date=9 December 2023 |title=How the Columbus Crew did what others couldn't against LAFC on the MLS Cup winning goal |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5124957/2023/12/09/columbus-crew-lafc-mls-cup-breakdown/ |access-date=11 December 2023 |website=The Athletic |language=en}} In the postseason, Columbus would overcome their archrivals FC Cincinnati in the conference finals, then outlast defending champions Los Angeles FC in the final. Nancy became the first Black coach to win MLS Cup.{{cite news |last1=Meyer |first1=Maddie |title=Columbus Crew coach Wilfried Nancy became the first black coach to win MLS Cup thanks to Saturday's win over Los Angeles FC. |url=https://www.nbcrightnow.com/national/columbus-crew-coach-wilfried-nancy-became-the-first-black-coach-to-win-mls-cup-thanks/image_57f76bdd-8733-542b-b25e-5e09982229f5.html |access-date=12 December 2023 |work=NBC Right Now |date=10 December 2023 |language=en}}

Managerial statistics

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" \|+ Managerial record by team and tenure
rowspan="2"\|Team !rowspan="2"\|Nat !rowspan="2"\|From !rowspan="2"\|To !colspan="8"\|Record !rowspan=2\|{{abbr\|Ref\|Reference}}
{{Tooltip\|G\|Games managed}} !{{Tooltip\|W\|Games won}} !{{Tooltip\|D\|Games drawn}} !{{Tooltip\|L\|Games lost}} !{{Tooltip\|GF\|Goals for}} !{{Tooltip\|GA\|Goals against}} !{{Tooltip\|GD\|Goal difference}} !{{Tooltip\|Win %\|Winning percentage}}
CF Montréal \|{{flagicon\|CAN}} \|align=left\|8 March 2021 \|align=left\|6 December 2022 {{WDL\|79\|37\|17\|25\|for=123\|against=105\|diff=yes}} \|{{cite web\|url=https://www.cfmontreal.com/en/post/2021/03/08/wilfried-nancy-named-cf-montr%C3%A9al-head-coach\|title=Wilfried Nancy named CF Montréal head coach\|date=8 March 2021\|work=CF Montréal}}
Columbus Crew \|{{flagicon\|USA}} \|align=left\|6 December 2022 \|align=left\|present {{WDL\|113\|59\|31\|23\|for=223\|against=146\|diff=yes}} \|{{cn\|date=December 2023}}
colspan="4"\|Total {{WDLtot\|192\|96\|48\|48\|for=346\|against=251\|diff=yes}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"

|+ Managerial record by team and tenure

rowspan="2"|Team

!rowspan="2"|Nat

!rowspan="2"|From

!rowspan="2"|To

!colspan="8"|Record

!rowspan=2|{{abbr|Ref|Reference}}

!{{Tooltip|W|Games won}}

!{{Tooltip|D|Games drawn}}

!{{Tooltip|L|Games lost}}

!{{Tooltip|GF|Goals for}}

!{{Tooltip|GA|Goals against}}

!{{Tooltip|GD|Goal difference}}

!{{Tooltip|Win %|Winning percentage}}

CF Montréal

|{{flagicon|CAN}}

|align=left|8 March 2021

|align=left|6 December 2022

|{{cite web|url=https://www.cfmontreal.com/en/post/2021/03/08/wilfried-nancy-named-cf-montr%C3%A9al-head-coach|title=Wilfried Nancy named CF Montréal head coach|date=8 March 2021|work=CF Montréal}}

Columbus Crew

|{{flagicon|USA}}

|align=left|6 December 2022

|align=left|present

|{{cn|date=December 2023}}

colspan="4"|Total