Ben Knapper Acknowledges High Stakes in Norwich City’s Search for New Head Coach
Norwich City sporting director Ben Knapper has admitted that the pressure is firmly on him to make the right call as the club searches for a new head coach, following the early dismissal of Johannes Hoff Thorup.
Thorup, who was chosen by Knapper less than a year ago to succeed David Wagner, was relieved of his duties after failing to deliver the expected progress—raising questions about Knapper’s decision-making. The club is currently in the process of assessing potential replacements, both domestically and internationally, and is considering coaches regardless of their current employment status.
Knapper is aiming to have a new head coach in place by the end of the month and recognizes the importance of getting this decision right after Thorup’s tenure ended in disappointment.
“I take full responsibility for that decision,” Knapper said, after confirming that interim boss Jack Wilshere would not be a contender due to his lack of senior experience. “There are never any guarantees in football, whether you’re appointing a coach or signing a player. You follow a process to manage risk, but sometimes, despite everything looking like a great fit on paper, it simply doesn’t work out. When that happens, you have to reflect, learn, and make sure the same mistakes aren’t repeated.”
When asked if this situation adds pressure, Knapper was candid: “Yes, definitely. But I also see it as an opportunity. We’ve begun a journey, and while we weren’t progressing the way we wanted, this gives us a chance to course correct. The pressure is there, naturally, but I’m also energized by the challenge.”
Despite Thorup’s failure to meet expectations, Knapper maintains that the process behind his appointment wasn’t fundamentally flawed.
“You have to take the lessons from any situation, regardless of the outcome,” he said. “It’s part of our routine to reflect across the football operation. But we must also be careful not to overreact. Just because something didn’t work out doesn’t mean we throw out everything we did before and head in a completely different direction.”
Knapper emphasized that the club remains committed to a certain profile for their next coach and won’t deviate drastically from it.
“No one is more disappointed than I am with how things went under Johannes,” he added. “Hiring a head coach is arguably the most significant decision a football club can make. That’s why our process will be thorough and deliberate—we won’t leave any stone unturned.”
