Declan Rudd named as Norwich City’s interim goalkeeper coach

While the hunt is underway for Clements’ long-term replacement, the Canaries academy alum will provide short-term support to the first team personnel.

Rudd will be in charge of Angus Gunn, George Long, Archie Mair, and the entire group of young goalkeepers for City at Colney. He will also be in charge of matchday preparations, which begin on Saturday at Carrow Road with the visit from Watford.

Alongside Narcis Pelach’s hiring as head coach, Clements went to Stoke, while Harrison Glew, an opposition analyst, also relocated to the Bet365 Stadium.

Diss-born Rudd, 33, left the game in 2022 while playing for Preston North End, although he later returned to the City academy as a coach. He’s been the lead academy goalkeeper coach for a little more than two years.

“The changeover has gone well. I’ve had some coaching experience,” Rudd said to club outlets in 2022. “I was fortunate enough to receive my UEFA B badge while I was still competing, so I gained some knowledge at that time. That, I believe, gave me the advantage to start coaching right away.

“I’ve been enrolling in numerous courses and expanding my knowledge.” Playing the role is entirely different from realising what’s happening behind the scenes. You don’t begin to realise how much of a blessing all of your prior instructors were until you become one yourself.

As you go, you pick up a lot of knowledge. You recall every difficult moment, particularly when you were a goalie. I refer to it as a different sport because it’s a lone position. Your mentality must be very different, and the training is quite different as well.

“I think going through the system and playing professionally helps my coaching, but coaching is very different, as I’ve learnt and continue to learn. Even though I’m still learning as I go, everything is going pretty well, and I’m thrilled with my current role.”

Following Pelach and Clements’ exits, Norwich is rumoured to have found coaching replacements, and efforts are still underway to bolster Thorup’s staff.