Why Norwich City have sacked Johannes Hoff Thorup revealed as Ben Knapper issues message..
Norwich City sporting director Ben Knapper has revealed why the club have decided to part ways with Johannes Hoff Thorup with just two games left to play in the Championship this season.
Easter Monday’s 3-1 loss to Millwall proved to be the final nail in the Danish coach’s Canaries coffin. After a run of one win, three draws and six losses in their last ten matches, which has left them bottom of the form table, City have pulled the plug on the Hoff Thorup project.
They are only three points above seventeenth despite having the league’s second and fourth top scorers – Borja Sainz (17) and Josh Sargent (15).
Johannes Hoff Thorup’s record in charge of Norwich City (all competitions..
Games in charge
47
Wins
14
Draws
14
Losses
19
Points per game
1.54.
Also out the door went assistant boss Glen Riddersholm. His former colleague, Jack Wilshere, kept his position at the club and is now their interim head coach for the final couple of matches of the 2024/25 campaign, in which he will face Michael Carrick’s Middlesbrough and Aaron Ramsey’s Cardiff City on the final day of the season.
Reasons behind Norwich’s Johannes Hoff Thorup sacking revealed
Knapper revealed, in the statement which broke the news of the Dane’s departure, that, despite Hoff Thorup being initially viewed as a head coach for the long-term, results of late had been so bad that they needed to take action.
Norwich have conceded 10 goals in their last three games, versus Burnley, Portsmouth and the aforementioned Lions.
“Whilst we made this appointment with a long-term focus and in line with our wider club strategy and direction, unfortunately recent results and performances have deemed it necessary for us to make a change,” Knapper stated.
Johannes Hoff Thorup applauds Norwich City’s support
“I’d like to place on record our sincere thanks to Johannes and Glen. They are both fantastic people who worked tirelessly to help improve and move our football club forward.
“We all wish the two of them the best in the next stage of their respective careers.”
When the 36-year-old was initially appointed, 10 months ago, Knapper spoke incredibly highly of the former FC Nordsjælland boss. He said: “After a thorough and robust process, Johannes stood out amongst an incredible shortlist of candidates.
“Through all of our interactions, it was clear that Johannes aligns perfectly with our vision and values. He is a proven developer, with a clear and demonstrable playing style.
“We believe that Johannes will be the perfect fit for the next stage of our new and exciting journey.”
Norwich City were right to make a change – Johannes Thorup just wasn’t working
It was clear that things were trending in the wrong direction. Norwich were going downhill with Hoff Thorup at the wheel and he showed no signs of putting the breaks on.
Luckily for the new interim, he’s not heading straight for the wall of relegation if he fails to stop the slide before the end of the season, unlike his Welsh former teammate who he may relegate on the final day of the season.
Wilshere has always wanted to get into coaching at the first-team level. Norwich gave him his first opportunity to do so after he left his post with the Arsenal under-18s.
Maybe he will prove to be the right person to steer them in a new, more positive direction. It was certainly becoming more and more clear that Hoff Thorup was going to struggle to do that.
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