Burnley appoint Fabio Celestini as head coach

Burnley have appointed Fabio Celestini as their head coach, four days after sacking Nicky Hayen. He takes over with the club 22nd in the Championship after just one league win this season.

"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," Celestini said in Burnley's announcement. "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, appointed director of football earlier this week, was tasked with finding a new head coach after Hayen's dismissal following Saturday's 4-1 defeat by Lincoln City. Burnley have not disclosed the details of Celestini's contract.

• Celestini took over a Basel side in the relegation places in October 2023 and left voluntarily in June 2025 after winning the Swiss Super League and Swiss Cup.
• Celestini won the Russian Super Cup with CSKA Moscow, who beat Krasnodar 1-0 in Kazan on 12 July 2025 for their eighth title in the competition and first since 2018.