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Burnley appoint ex-Basel boss Celestini as head coach

Q: What is this sports story about?

Burnley appoint Fabio Celestini as their head coach, four days after the departure of Nicky Hayen.

Q: Who published this story?

This story was published by BBC Football on October 28, 2026 and curated on Africa Front.

Q: What related topics does this story cover?

African Football, Arts & Culture

October 28, 2026

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Burnley appoint ex-Basel boss Celestini as head coach

Published9 hours ago

Burnley have appointed Fabio Celestini as their new head coach, four days after the sacking of Nicky Hayen.

The 50-year-old led FC Basel to a domestic double in 2024-25, winning the Swiss Super League title and the Swiss Cup.

But having mainly managed in Switzerland, Celestini was most recently in charge of CSKA Moscow, with whom he won the Russian Super Cup.

"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., external

"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."

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Celestini arrives to take charge of a Clarets side who have started life back in the Championship badly, having won just once in the league this season to leave them in 22nd position in the table.

Their poor form stretches back to a torrid Premier League campaign last term, and the club are without a win at home in the league for over a year.

Earlier this week, Diego Lopez was appointed as director of football and given the task of finding a new manager after Hayen left in the aftermath of Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Lincoln City.

"Fabio brings the passion, experience and knowledge we were looking for," Lopez said.

"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."

Details of Celestini's contract have not been disclosed by the club.

A former midfielder who won 35 caps for Switzerland, he began his managerial career with Italian club Terracina.

As well as Basel and CSKA Moscow, he has also had spells at Lausanne - his principal club as a player, Lucerne, Lugano and Sion.

He left CSKA by mutual agreement in May after 11 months with the Russian Premier League side.

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