Norwich City have drawn the consequences of missing out on promotion to the Premier League and sacked head coach David Wagner
It was probably also the “how” that gave those responsible pause for thought. In the semi-final first leg of the qualifying round, Norwich City were held to a goalless draw by Leeds. On Thursday, in the game in Leeds, nothing went right. The Wagner team lost 4-0. Leeds, who only finished third in the Championship despite 90 points, thus entered the final in the battle for the lucrative last Premier League ticket, with Southampton FC and West Bromwich Albion the opponents on Friday evening. Champions Leicester City and runners-up Ipswich Town have already secured their tickets
In addition to Wagner, assistant Christoph Bühler must also leave the Canaries. “David has acted with class and dignity throughout his time as head coach of Norwich City, but we feel it is now time to move in a different direction,” sporting director Ben Knapper was quoted as saying in a club statement.
Wagner had clearly missed out on direct promotion with Norwich, but as sixth in the table the club just slipped into the knockout round. Norwich picked up just two points from their last three games in the Championship, meaning the trend was no longer in the coach’s favor even before the clash with Leeds.
It was the 52-year-old’s second coaching stint in England. After his stint at Borussia Dortmund II, which saw them promoted to the 3rd division in 2013 and relegated in 2015, he led Huddersfield Town to the Premier League in 2017 and managed to stay in the league the following year. In January 2019, however, they parted ways after a long dry spell. Via Schalke 04 and Young Boys Bern, he ended up at second division club Norwich in early January 2023
