Norwich City confirm ex-Arsenal coach Jack Wilshere’s exit..
Jack Wilshere has left Norwich City by mutual consent..
The Canaries confirmed on Saturday afternoon the first team coach, who had two games in interim charge at the end of the Championship season, had left Carrow Road.
Wilshere is keen to explore head coach opportunities this summer, after he was overlooked by sporting director Ben Knapper in the on-going search for Johannes Hoff Thorup’s replacement.
The 33-year-old was part of the Dane’s backroom team after joining from a role in Arsenal’s academy in October 2024.
Wilshere oversaw a goalless draw at Middlesbrough and a 4-2 final day home win against Cardiff City.
“Jack made a big impact here in the time he was with us. He built great connections with our players and staff, and we’re all sad to see him move on,” said Knapper, quoted on the official site.
“We were all very grateful for him stepping in as our interim head coach for the final two games of the season, but we understand and respect his desire to further explore opportunities elsewhere.
“He leaves with our very best wishes, and we’ll follow his progress closely. I’ve no doubt he’ll go on to have a very successful coaching career in the senior game.”
A host of City players publicly backed the former England midfielder’s credentials, but Knapper cited Wilshere’s lack of senior coaching experience in the decision not to consider him for the head coach vacancy.
“Naturally he was disappointed. He’s super-ambitious, and rightly so he should be. But for where we are right now, and the context, we’re focusing externally,” said Knapper, in a post-season media round recently at Colney. “I know him so well. And, of course, the emotional part, or the other romantic part of me, would love to make that decision, but my job is to not get wrapped up in in emotion and really try to make cool, objective decisions about trying to manage risk.
“It was difficult because I’m human as well, and you have those emotional, romantic thoughts. But the reality is my job is to separate away from those, and make what I think is the best decision for the football club. And that was what I did.
“Jack is incredibly talented. There’s no doubt for me that he will be a top head coach. He’s hungry, He’s ambitious. Everything that we’ve seen from him since we’ve been here would suggest that he will get to that place.
“But where he’s at in his journey I just didn’t feel that this was that particular moment in time.”
Norwich City should make big Gary O’Neil call as managerial decision looms.
It is unclear who the three foreign candidates under consideration by Norwich are, so of the three names who are known to be on the club’s shortlist, Manning would surely be the preferred option, but there are big question marks over whether he would leave Bristol City after leading them to the play-offs this season.
With Manning potentially out of reach, the Canaries may need to turn their attention elsewhere, and while Lijnders would no doubt have learned a lot working under Klopp at Liverpool, his spell at RB Salzburg was underwhelming, so he would be a big gamble for the Norfolk outfit.
There would also be risks attached to the appointment of O’Neil, particularly after the disastrous end to his time at Wolves, but he did build up plenty of credit during his two Premier League managerial spells, and as he already has a connection with the club from his playing days, he would likely be welcomed back by the Carrow Road faithful.
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