Burnley appoint Fabio Celestini with contract length not disclosed

Burnley appoint Fabio Celestini as their new head coach, with the club confirming the change on 2026-10-28, four days after Nicky Hayen was sacked. The former Switzerland midfielder replaces Hayen with Burnley 22nd in the Championship following relegation from the Premier League.

The Clarets have not disclosed the length of Celestini’s contract, making the appointment clear in role but limited in publicly confirmed detail. The 50-year-old arrives with Burnley having won only one of their 12 league games this season.

Contract length not disclosed

Burnley’s announcement confirmed Celestini as head coach but did not state how long his deal runs. That leaves the immediate focus on the appointment itself rather than the duration of the project.

The timing is direct: Celestini’s arrival came four days after the departure of Nicky Hayen. Burnley had sacked Hayen before moving to install Celestini as his replacement.

In announcing the appointment, Burnley described Celestini as someone who “arrives with a proven capacity to win and to adapt to different football environments”.

Celestini’s playing and coaching profile

Celestini is a former Switzerland midfielder and is 50. He is also known for his spell at Basel, which has been described as successful, and he arrives at Turf Moor after being identified as Burnley’s new head coach.

The appointment gives Burnley a coach with experience outside English football at a point when the club are attempting to stabilise in the Championship after dropping out of the Premier League.

The table position he inherits

Burnley are 22nd in the Championship. Their league form this season has been limited to one win from 12 matches, a return that has framed the need for change in the dugout.

The club’s relegation from the Premier League placed them back in a division where results can quickly reshape a season, but Celestini begins with Burnley in the lower reaches of the table and in need of improvement.

What happens next

Celestini now takes charge of first-team matters as Burnley’s head coach. With the contract length undisclosed, the clearest measure of his early impact will be how quickly Burnley can improve their Championship results after a difficult start.