Norwich sack boss Wagner after play-off defeat

After losing the second leg of the semifinals 4-0 on Thursday, the Canaries took action to ensure they would play in the second division for a third straight season.

Carlos Cuesta, the coach of Arsenal, is a potential candidate because he was the Gunners’ loan manager and collaborated with sporting director Ben Knapper.

“David has operated with class and dignity throughout his period as Norwich City head coach, but we now feel that the time is right for us to move in a different direction,” stated Knapper.

“We are still dedicated to using a methodical and comprehensive approach to enhance our football team throughout the short and long terms.

“The selection of a new head coach holds great significance. We will now get to work and carry out our investigation in order to schedule a meeting as soon as possible.

Christoph Buhler, Wagner’s assistant, has also left Carrow Road.

After Knapper took over for Stuart Webber in November, the German was playing on borrowed time. They lost 3-1 at home to Blackburn in November, capping a record of seven losses in nine games and just one victory.

However, they had a fantastic second half of the season, winning eight consecutive at home to finish sixth and secure a play-off position.

After a goalless first leg at Carrow Road against Leeds on Sunday, the Whites easily advanced to the play-off final, where they will take on either Southampton or West Brom.

Following the defeat at Elland Road, Wagner, who guided Huddersfield to promotion to the Premier League in 2017, said on BBC Radio Norfolk: “This is really disappointing, we were very poor and it really hurts.”

After taking over for Dean Smith in January 2023, he was appointed and ultimately finished 13th in the Championship the previous season.

Wagner thanked his predecessor Webber for his support, but did not mention Knapper in a press conference after the team’s 1-0 loss to Birmingham on the last day of play.

Chris Sutton, a former striker for the Canaries, Chelsea, and Celtic, said on BBC Radio Norfolk, “We’ve seen the three teams who went up last season come straight back down, and Norwich City are miles off those teams.”

“You have to look at the big picture, and in my opinion, Norwich City has lost their identity under David Wagner.

“At Championship level, it has been frustrating for me, as a Norwich City fan, to watch the team and the way they play, I don’t think Norwich should be playing counter-attacking football, I think they should be playing possession-based football as the club have always done.”

He continued: “Over the two play-off games, I thought Norwich’s chance was at home and the approach was slightly negative – Leeds weren’t much better but essentially got the job done.”

With Josh Sargent, a US international who leads the team in scoring with 16, and fellow forward Jonathan Rowe, whose season was cut short by injury after a brilliant start, expected to draw interest in the transfer market, Norwich could have a challenging summer.

In addition to striker Ashley Barnes, who turns 35 in October, they will also need to think about possible replacements for out-of-contract players such defender Dimitris Giannoulis, Ben Gibson, and Sam McCallum.

The future of Adam Idah, who was permitted to join Celtic on loan and scored eight goals in their championship-winning Scottish Premiership campaign, is also probably going to be discussed.

This is a moment of transition at Carrow Road, as the 40% interest held by American businessman Mark Attanasio’s Norfolk FB Holdings has replaced Delia Smith and Michael Wynn Jones as primary shareholders.