Burnley named former Switzerland midfielder Fabio Celestini as their new head coach on 28 October, four days after sacking Nicky Hayen, The Guardian reported. The club did not disclose the length of the 50-year-old's contract.
Celestini inherits a side in trouble. Since relegation from the Premier League, Burnley have won only one of their 12 Championship games this season and sit 22nd in the table.
Who is Fabio Celestini?
Key facts, compiled from The Guardian:
| Stat | Detail |
|---|---|
| Age | 50 |
| Playing career | 10 years in France and Spain, 35 caps for Switzerland |
| Swiss clubs managed | Lugano, Luzern, Sion, Basel |
| Standout achievement | Took Basel from bottom of the table to a league and cup double within 18 months |
| Most recent job | CSKA Moscow, left in May 2026 |
In its statement, Burnley said the new coach "arrives with a proven capacity to win and to adapt to different football environments". The Basel turnaround shows he has lifted a side from the bottom of a table before.
What the club and the coach said
Chief football officer Diego López, himself a new name at the club, said, as quoted by The Guardian: "Fabio brings the passion, experience and knowledge we were looking for." He added that Celestini had shown extraordinary determination to come to Burnley and was a clear example of the kind of person the club wants.
Celestini told the club's website, as quoted by The Guardian, that he sees big potential and real quality in the squad. He said: "I know the situation we are in, and I have lived it before." He added that supporters deserve to see a team playing with belief from the first whistle.
What comes next
Celestini takes charge for the first time when Burnley host Portsmouth in the Championship on 31 October. With one win from 12 league games, his immediate task is to lift the club away from the bottom end of the table.