Norwich City FC are making decisive moves in their search for a new head coach, having narrowed the field to three prominent candidates: Liam Manning, Pep Lijnders, and Gary O'Neil.
The search is being overseen by sporting director Ben Knapper and his assistant, Neil Adams, who aim to finalise their decision by next week. While Manning, Lijnders, and O'Neil have emerged as the leading contenders, Knapper has also explored potential international candidates. Reports indicate that Christian Titz and Brian Priske are no longer in the running, and notably, former captain Russell Martin, who led the club to play-off success, has not been considered for the position.
Liam Manning, currently at Bristol City, is generating interest due to his adaptive coaching methods. At 39 years old, he reportedly has a release clause in his contract. His name has also been linked with Leicester City, should they make a managerial change following their relegation from the Premier League. Manning's connection to Norwich is significant; he spent time in the youth setup before moving to Ipswich Town, albeit without making a senior appearance.
Gary O'Neil, another candidate with strong ties to Norwich, made 53 appearances for the club during his playing career, including a role in their Championship play-off final victory over Middlesbrough in 2015. Transitioning into management, O'Neil has held positions at Bournemouth and Wolves. He successfully retained Bournemouth's Premier League status in the 2022/23 season after stepping up from a caretaker role. More recently, he managed Wolves, achieving a 14th-place finish and leading them to the FA Cup quarter-finals before his departure in December 2024.
Pep Lijnders brings a wealth of experience from his time at Liverpool, where he was integral to Jürgen Klopp's coaching team.
Knapper has underscored the urgency of appointing a new head coach ahead of the first team's return for pre-season testing in late June.