The Departure of Johannes Hoff Thorup
Johannes Hoff Thorup's tenure as head coach concluded abruptly after a series of disappointing results, culminating in a 3-1 defeat to Millwall. This loss saw Norwich slip to 14th place in the Championship, prompting the club to make a change in leadership.
In the aftermath, Thorup expressed surprise at his dismissal, citing a lack of communication and clarity regarding the club's expectations.
Interim Leadership: Jack Wilshere
Following Thorup's exit, former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere was appointed as interim head coach for the final two games of the season. Wilshere, who had joined Norwich's coaching staff in October 2024 after leading Arsenal's Under-18s, guided the team to four points from those matches.
Despite this positive outcome, Norwich decided not to consider Wilshere for the permanent managerial role.
Jack Wilshere has subsequently left Norwich City as the club decided to focus on an external candidate for the permanent position.
Candidates for the Permanent Role
Norwich City are evaluating several candidates to fill the managerial vacancy:
Gary O'Neil: The former Bournemouth and Wolves manager is currently the leading contender. O'Neil was previously dismissed by Wolves in December while the club were 19th in the Premier League.
Pepijn Lijnders: Former assistant to Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool, Lijnders has also managed NEC Nijmegen and most recently coached Red Bull Salzburg. He is expected to meet with Norwich officials soon.
Liam Manning: Currently managing Bristol City, Manning led them to a Championship play-off spot this season. As a Norwich native, his appointment would be a homecoming.
Christian Titz: Former FC Magdeburg manager, Christian Titz, has been linked with the vacant manager position at Hull City, Norwich City, and Queens Park Rangers.
Other names reportedly under consideration include Steve Cooper, Ralph Hasenhüttl, and Russell Martin.
Timeline for Appointment
Norwich City aim to finalise the managerial appointment by the end of May, ahead of their pre-season training camp in the Netherlands.