Jack Wilshere is embarking on an exciting new chapter in his football career as he takes on the role of first-team coach at Norwich City, a position he views as a stepping stone towards his ultimate ambition of becoming a head coach. Having transitioned from a youth coaching role at Arsenal, Wilshere joined Norwich last October, demonstrating his commitment to personal and professional development within the sport.
Wilshere's playing career is distinguished, featuring 32 caps for the England national team, appearances in the 2014 World Cup and Euro 2016, and two FA Cup victories with Arsenal. Now, he is channeling his focus towards coaching, fully immersing himself in the demanding environment of the Championship. Despite his busy schedule, he candidly admitted, "I've not had much time to go out in Norwich. I got a haircut, actually, but apart from that, with the schedule being the way it has been, I haven't had much time," during an interview with BBC Radio Norfolk's *The Scrimmage*.
Reflecting on his journey, Wilshere shared, "Growing up as a player, you were reminded a lot, 'Don't be in your comfort zone, don't be in your comfort zone', and that kind of always stuck with me, and my ambition - and I've been open about this - is to be a head coach at some point." His determination to embrace the challenges of managing a first-team squad is evident, showcasing his readiness to evolve in this new role.
At just 33, Wilshere's playing career was unfortunately curtailed by injuries, leading to his retirement after stints at clubs including West Ham United and AFC Bournemouth, as well as a brief period at Danish side Aarhus. It was during this time that he first encountered Norwich's head coach, Johannes Hoff Thorup. "I saw a few of his teams before, when I played in Denmark, so I sort of knew about him and the way he saw football. And then when I sat down and spoke with him, it was clear that this was the right step for me," he explained, highlighting the importance of this connection in his decision to join Norwich.
Another influential figure in Wilshere's move to Carrow Road has been sporting director Ben Knapper, a former colleague at Arsenal. "I've known Ben since 2007, 2008. He was really forward-thinking at a time when there weren't really many analysts and always thought about the game in a certain way, and he developed his thinking, his knowledge of that. I suppose we developed a sort of trust between us," he noted, acknowledging Knapper’s significant role in his coaching journey.
Wilshere expressed genuine enthusiasm for his current responsibilities, stating, "Trying to grow [as a coach] and trying to develop a playing style and a culture in the club with a new manager and new technical director, it's really exciting to be part of it. I'm really grateful to Ben and to Johannes for giving me the opportunity to come and work with them."
Having made 190 appearances for Arsenal over a decade, Wilshere remains closely attuned to developments at his former club, particularly in light of the impressive performances from young talents like Myles Lewis-Skelly. "It was the first time I've been back. Johannes and a group of the staff were there, we decided it would be a good one to go to - and what a game to do it," he recalled, expressing pride in the success of former youth players: "Of course, I want Arsenal to do well, but I was really happy as well for Ethan Nwaneri and Myles, who obviously played in my team before."
Wilshere is optimistic about the potential of Norwich's academy, referencing its history of producing an FA Youth Cup-winning side. "I know Johannes is massive on the academy and trying to get players through into the [first] team, and I know that Norwich also has a recent history of doing that. It's so important, and something that really motivates me is young players coming through the academy and given that opportunity, and I believe we've got a manager here that believes in that," he remarked.
Currently, Norwich City find themselves in eighth place in the Championship, just two points adrift of the play-off spots, as they aim for a return to the Premier League. Discussing his role in the development of players like Josh Sargent and Borja Sainz, Wilshere reflected on his own career, which has been marked by numerous ups and downs due to injuries. "I've had a career that was up, down, up, down, a lot of injuries, some injuries maybe could have been avoided, but I always tried to look at it with no regrets and just try and move forward," he stated.
He acknowledged the distinct challenges of coaching youth players compared to senior professionals, saying, "When you're in an academy and you're an ex-player and not too far away from the game, recently retired, there's always like a feeling that it's different coaching Under-16s, 17s, 18s than it is to men." He concluded, "There are different challenges when you're working with 18s, of setting up a session or dealing with their emotions - these guys are men, they're professionals, they want to win, they want to get promoted, and they want to know the best way to do that, so it's a different way of thinking, but I'm really enjoying it."
As reported by BBC, Wilshere's coaching journey is just beginning, and his aspirations for success in management serve as a motivating force at Norwich City, where he is poised to make a significant impact.