Norwich put faith in familiar face as new manager ensures Championship reunion

Norwich have announced the appointment of David Wagner as the club's new head coach.

The former Huddersfield boss has signed a 12-month rolling contract and takes over at Carrow Road following the departure of Dean Smith, who was sacked on December 27 on the back of a run of just three wins from 13 league games. Wagner is joined by assistant head coach Christoph Buhler and first-team coach Andrew Hughes, with their first match being Sunday's FA Cup third-round tie against Blackburn.

Set-piece coach Allan Russell had been in interim charge for the past two home games, which saw Norwich draw with Reading and then lose to Watford on Monday which left them 11th in the Sky Bet Championship. Speaking to the Norwich club website, Wagner said: "This is a very special and proud moment for me. To be here, back in England, as the head coach of Norwich City is a huge honour.

"I've very pleased with what I have seen so far. The facilities at the training centre are top class. We now have to look forward and work extremely hard.

"This is a new challenge for us all. Will it be easy? No. We have to leave what has happened in the past behind. If we want success, we have to be together. Together as a group of players, backroom staff and supporters."

Wagner will link up again with Norwich sporting director Stuart Webber, the pair having worked together at Huddersfield.

"After speaking with David, who is someone I've known for a long time, he quickly became the outstanding candidate," Webber said. "His knowledge of our squad, vision, idea around football and working style is something that clearly aligns with our short, medium and long-term goals.

"We know we need to get to work and produce some positive performances. As always, results will follow if the performances are there."

German-born Wagner, 51, guided Huddersfield to promotion to the Premier League in 2017, going on to keep them in the top flight the following season.

After leaving the Terriers in January 2019, with the club bottom of the table and later relegated, Wagner took over at Schalke, where he was eventually dismissed following a run of 18 Bundesliga matches without a win.

Wagner had been linked with a return to coaching in England, but moved to Swiss Super League side Young Boys in June 2021. Although he guided them into the group stage of the Champions League, where they beat Manchester United at home, Wagner was sacked in March 2022 as Young Boys' domestic title ambitions faded.

Smith had been in charge at Norwich for 13 months after taking over following the departure of Daniel Farke. However, the former Aston Villa boss was unable to save the Norfolk club from relegation from the Premier League.

Despite Norwich having challenged towards the top of the table earlier in the campaign, Smith struggled to win over supporters, who again had called for his dismissal following defeat at Luton on Boxing Day.