Burnley have appointed Fabio Celestini as their new head coach, four days after dismissing Nicky Hayen following a disastrous start to the Championship season. The 50-year-old Swiss manager, who led FC Basel to a domestic double in the 2024-25 season, arrives to stabilize a club languishing in 22nd place with just one league win.
According to BBC Sport, Celestini's appointment comes after Hayen's departure in the wake of Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Lincoln City. The Belgian manager had lasted only 14 games in charge, continuing a pattern of struggle that began with Burnley's relegation from the Premier League last season.
Celestini brings extensive experience from European football. Most recently, he managed CSKA Moscow, where he won the Russian Super Cup. His appointment at Basel saw him deliver both the Swiss Super League title and the Swiss Cup in the 2024-25 campaign, demonstrating his ability to win silverware at the highest domestic level.
As a player, Celestini represented several European clubs including Marseille, Levante and Getafe, giving him a broad perspective on football across different leagues and cultures.
What does Celestini bring to Burnley?
The new head coach expressed optimism about the challenge ahead.
I look at Burnley and I see a club with big potential and players with real quality, who can help us achieve our supporters' ambitions,he said.
I know the situation we are in, and I have lived it before. Our supporters deserve to see a team playing with belief from the first whistle.
Diego Lopez, who was appointed as director of football earlier this week to oversee the managerial search, endorsed the appointment.
Fabio brings the passion, experience and knowledge we were looking for,Lopez stated.
He showed extraordinary determination and conviction to come to Burnley. We want people who truly want to be here and help this club grow. Fabio is a clear example of that.
How did Burnley reach this point?
Hayen's tenure proved catastrophic from the outset. Burnley sacked the Belgian manager after 14 games as the club's poor form extended a troubling pattern. The Clarets have not won at home in the league for over a year, a statistic that underscores the depth of their difficulties both in the Premier League last season and into their Championship campaign.
The club's search for a replacement proved complex. Before Celestini's appointment was finalized, Burnley had also explored Rob Edwards and Carlos Corberán, with Edwards withdrawing from consideration while Corberán was reportedly targeting a Premier League role instead.
What happens next for Burnley?
Burnley are scheduled to host Portsmouth on Saturday, 31 October 2026, providing Celestini with an early opportunity to make an impression on the club's supporters and begin the task of reversing their fortunes. The fixture will be his first competitive match in charge as the Clarets attempt to climb away from the bottom of the Championship table.
The appointment represents a significant moment for the club, which has endured considerable upheaval following relegation. With Lopez now in place as director of football and Celestini tasked with restoring competitive standards, Burnley hope to have found the stability required to mount a promotion challenge.
