Tag: kelechi Iheanacho

The  club of Nigeria  international  striker  Kelechi Iheanacho, Celtic, has sacked manager Wilfried Nancy after just eight games in charge of the Scottish champions – during which his team suffered six defeats.

Saturday’s 3-1 loss at home to arch-rivals Rangers sparked protests outside Celtic Park and was the final straw for club bosses.

 “Celtic Football Club today announces that it has decided to terminate the contract of manager Wilfried Nancy with immediate effect,” said a club statement.

The Hoops added that the Frenchman’s coaching staff and Paul Tisdale, the head of football operations, had also left the club.

Nancy, previously in charge at MLS side Columbus Crew, started his job as Celtic manager on December 4, signing a two-and-a-half-year contract and taking over from interim boss Martin O’Neill.

He promised to give the fans “a strong, exciting, attacking, winning football team they can be so proud of”.

But the appointment quickly turned into a nightmare, with four defeats in his first four games, including a 3-1 defeat to St Mirren in the Scottish League Cup final.

It was the first time Celtic had lost four games in a row since a similar run under celebrated manager Jock Stein in 1978.

Nancy finally earned his first wins in late December, with Celtic beating Aberdeen and then Livingston.

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But they lost to Motherwell and collapsed to a 3-1 defeat at home to Rangers at the weekend, despite taking the lead at Celtic Park.

That defeat left Celtic second in the table, six points behind Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts.

The Glasgow club won seven of their eight games under caretaker boss O’Neill, who took charge following the departure in October of Brendan Rogers, who is now in charge at Saudi Pro League side Al-Qadsiah.

Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton compared Nancy’s position to that of Ruben Amorim, sacked as manager of struggling English giants Manchester United just hours earlier.

 “It’s a bit like the Ruben Amorim situation at Manchester United but over a shorter period,” Sutton told Sky Sports.

 “He was fixated on changing Celtic’s style, moving to a 3-4-3, playing one particular way. He just wasn’t adaptable and for Celtic to lose six and ship as many goals as they did – it was kamikaze stuff from Nancy.

 “You want to give a manager time, but I think Celtic have acted decisively because there is a league title to win.”

Celtic and Rangers form Scotland’s “Old Firm”, with both clubs crowned Scottish champions 55 times.

Celtic, the first British team to lift the European Cup, in 1967, have won 13 of the past 14 league titles.

Celtic coach Wilfried Nancy has confirmed that Nigeria International striker Kelechi Iheanacho has suffered another hamstring injury, adding the timeline for his absence is yet unknown.

Iheanacho  had only just recovered from a spell on the sidelines, coming on as a substitute against Roma in the Europa League on Thursday before starting Sunday’s League Cup final defeat to St Mirren.

However, he was forced off during the first half.

Appearing to clutch his hamstring, it quickly became clear the 29-year-old was not going to be able to continue.

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Nancy has now confirmed it is another hamstring injury but, as yet, there is no prognosis for a period of time he will be out.

Meanwhile, Anthony Ralston was seen as another doubt after also going off injured but it would seem he is fit and available for the trip to Dundee United tomorrow night.

Nancy said: “Ralston is okay. But Kelechi is going to be out. It’s hamstring, but I don’t know yet for how long.”

Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho has showered praise on Celtic supporters following his first European goal for the club in their 1-1 draw against Red Star Belgrade in the UEFA Europa League on Wednesday night.

Introduced at half-time, the Super Eagles forward made an instant impact when he found the net in the 55^th  minute, giving Brendan Rodgers’ side a brief lead in a tense Belgrade atmosphere.

Although Marko Arnautović’s equaliser denied Celtic all three points, Iheanacho chose to highlight the fans’ unwavering support.

Taking to Instagram after the match, he wrote: “European nights!! Gutted we didn’t get the win tonight, we go again next week. Thank you to our amazing fans for the support.”

Incidentally,Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers has praised Kelechi  for his   fine performance in  the UEFA Europa League tie in Serbia.

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“I thought Kele’s goal was absolutely outstanding,” remarked the manager, who described the draw on the road as “a good point”. “One of his great strengths is that he can take the ball in and progress us up the pitch.

 “He gave us a much better platform in the second half,” he added.  

Celtic will now turn their attention to domestic duty, as they prepare to host Motherwell this weekend in the Scottish Premiership.

Rodgers will be banking on Iheanacho to carry his European confidence into the league, where Celtic aim to strengthen their grip at the top of the table.

A perfect penalty from debutant Kelechi Iheanacho secured three points for Celtic at the end of a pulsating Scottish Premiership encounter with Kilmarnock.

The VAR-awarded spot-kick had Celtic fans in the Chadwick Stand, half of whom had delayed their arrival until the 12^th  minute in protest at the club’s board, celebrating wildly as their side returned to the top of the table.

In contrast, the home supporters  were crestfallen after being on course for at least a point.

David Watson had powerfully nodded in to cancel out a fine diving header from Daizen Maeda, the off-form Japan star stooping to direct in Marcelo Saracchi’s fine cross shortly after half-time for his first league goal this season.

But there was to be a dramatic end as referee John Beaton went to the monitor after James Forrest’s shot struck Lewis Mayo arm on its way, with the Kilmarnock defender judged to have had his arm in an unnatural position.

Around half the visiting support delayed their entry at Rugby Park in protest against what they view as a lack of ambition and spending by Celtic’s hierarchy.

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Chants of ‘sack the board’ after the final whistle were somewhat muted, given the joy that greeted Iheanacho’s late strike.

Until the first goal went in, a fairly drab, gloomy affair ensued, illuminated every now and again by the skill, speed and flair of Celtic wing debutant, Sebastian Tounekti, who already looks like the best bit of business in a transfer window that otherwise frustrated manager Brendan Rodgers and the support alike.

Celtic look like they needed something to spark them into life this season, and it may well just have been provided by Iheanacho’s dramatic introduction into Scotland’s top flight, the Nigeria international having joined as a free agent after the closure of the summer transfer window.

Though disappointed, Kilmarnock will take great heart from the way they contained the visitors for much of the match and the threat they posed towards the end of the game.

Celtic lead Hearts on goal difference after five games, with Hibernian and St Mirren both seven points off the top two. Stuart Kettlewell’s Killie, eighth, remain on four points.

Super Eagles forward Kelechi Iheanacho may be on the move again, with reports suggesting the 28-year-old could depart Sevilla before the close of the summer transfer window, according to Bold Sports.

Iheanacho, who joined Sevilla on a free transfer in 2024 after a long spell at Leicester City, spent the latter half of last season on loan at Middlesbrough, where he managed one goal and two assists in the English Championship.

Despite returning to Sevilla for pre-season preparations, it appears he may not be in the immediate plans of head coach Matias Almeyda, opening the door to a possible exit.

Transfer insider Buchi Laba reports that Besiktas are leading the chase for the Nigerian striker, with two other Turkish Süper Lig clubs also expressing interest. Iheanacho is reportedly open to a move to Turkey, where he could reignite his career and gain consistent playing time.

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Sevilla are said to be demanding €3 million for the striker—a modest fee that still offers a return on investment, considering he arrived as a free agent.

A potential switch to Besiktas would see Iheanacho reunite with fellow Nigerian and former Leicester teammate Wilfred Ndidi, who recently completed his own move to the Istanbul-based club. The duo enjoyed six seasons together at the King Power Stadium, forming a close bond both on and off the pitch.

If completed, the move would also add Iheanacho to a growing list of Nigerian stars plying their trade in Turkey this season, including Victor Osimhen (Galatasaray), Paul Onuachu (Trabzonspor), and Henry Onyekuru (Genclerbirligi).

Should a permanent transfer not materialise, Sevilla may still consider a loan deal or opt to reintegrate Iheanacho into the squad for the 2025–26 season, where he would join fellow Nigerian players Akor Adams and Chidera Ejuke.

Spanish Outlet Orgullobiri has reported that Sevilla have set a new price tag of 3m Euros on Nigerian player Kelechi Iheanacho. This is €1.5 million less than his value on Transfermarkt.

Iheanacho’s future is uncertain at Sevilla, as he has failed to adjust to life there since joining last summer.

The Super Eagles star who turns 29 in October joined Los Nervionenses in a free transfer last summer, but things have not gone well for him so far.

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He had to play second fiddle to a faltering Isaac Romero in the first half of last season. Then, due to his lack of minutes, he joined Championship club Middlesbrough on loan in the January transfer window. Still, he did not deliver, and that made the club decide against selling him.

Super Eagles attacker Kelechi Iheanacho is set to leave Sevilla for Mexican club Pumas UNAM this summer, according to Soccernet.ng.

The last two years have been tough for Iheanacho at club level. He had a tough final season at Leicester City, where he was frozen out of the team even though the club was playing Championship football at the time.

Then, last summer, he moved to Sevilla at the expiration of his contract. Unfortunately for him, he did not cut it there and had to move to Middlesbrough on loan.

Still, Iheanacho did not deliver. He featured in 15 games and managed one goal and one assist. Hence, the club let him leave at the end of the season.

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Iheanacho returned to Sevilla for pre-season earlier this week, but his future has been on the front burner, especially as the club’s former sporting director Victor Orta openly said that signing the Super Eagles star was a mistake.

Sevilla have a new coach Matias Almeyda, but it appears that Iheanacho will not be given an opportunity to prove himself.

In a new development, per The Express, Iheanacho is very close to exiting Sevilla. This is as they are close to reaching an agreement with Pumas UNAM.

Ademola Lookman’s cousin, Hazeem Bakre, has paid glowing tribute to Kelechi Iheanacho, describing the 2013 Fifa U17 World Cup Golden Ball winner as ‘a great player’ following his loan spell at Middlesbrough.

On Friday, Boro confirmed their retained list to the English Football League, with Iheanacho among five players set to return to their parent clubs.

The Nigeria international, who joined from Sevilla in January, departs alongside Mark Travers, Ryan Giles, Sammy Iling-Junior and Ben Doak.

Iheanacho moved to the Riverside Stadium in search of regular playing time after falling out of favour at Sevilla.

The Super Eagles forward featured in 15 Championship matches, scoring once and providing two assists.

Notably, he was involved in all but one of Boro’s games during his loan spell, missing only the 3-1 win at Stoke City.

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Middlesbrough youth team forward Bakre, a rising talent himself, has highlighted the striker’s impressive goalscoring record over the years.

“Kelechi Iheanacho is a great player. He’s someone I’ve always looked up to and watched closely,” Bakre told allnigeriasoccer.com.

“He has great goal-scoring stats over the years, and I try to replicate things from his game into mine to help me in the future.”

Since turning professional, Iheanacho has registered 86 goals and 45 assists in 322 appearances across stints with Manchester City, Leicester City, Sevilla, and Middlesbrough.

Kelechi Iheanacho opened his goals account for Middlesbrough in their 2-1 win against Oxford United in the Championship on Saturday.

Prior to Saturday’s match, Iheanacho had failed to score in seven Championship fixtures for Michael Carrick’s side.

It was his first goal since December 2024, when he scored in the Copa del Rey for Sevilla.

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The 28-year-old, who is on loan from Sevilla, drew Boro level three minutes into the second half, as he slammed the ball into the roof of the net off a cross from the left wing.

The Super Eagles star was then replaced in the 75th minute as Brazilian defender Neto Borges netted what proved to be the winner at 80 minutes.

The win is a boost to Boro’s promotion playoff ambitions as they are now seventh on 57 points.

They are on the same point with West Bromwich Albion, who occupy sixth position, which is the final play-off spot, and are ahead of Boro on superior goals.