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Narcis Potted - themaclad - 18-09-2024
Stoke City have appointed Norwich City coach Narcis Pelach as their new manager on a three-year contract.
The 36-year-old Catalan succeeds Steven Schumacher following his shock sacking on Monday after just nine months in charge.
Pelach, from Girona, has worked in English football for four years, first under fellow Spaniard Carlos Corberan at Huddersfield Town and then for the past 16 months under David Wagner and his replacement Johannes Hoff Thorup at Carrow Road.
He will be joined by three new backroom men, coaches Dean Whitehead and Paul Clements, as well as performance analyst Harrison Glew.
Former Stoke midfielder Whitehead, 42, has left Barnsley after just two months at the League One club to return to the Potteries, while Clements, 39, was working alongside Pelach at Norwich as the Canaries' goalkeeping coach.
Pelach's first game in charge will be on Friday, when the Potters, 13th in the Championship after losing three of their five league games this season, entertain winless Hull City.
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“I’ve had other chances to become a head coach in England and in other countries," said Pelach. "But I know the league, I know the opposition and I already know about our players. The level of the squad is good. I believe in them and I will create a playing style that suits their qualities.
“I feel a great excitement and sense of responsibility to Stoke City and can’t thank (chairman) John Coates and (tehnical director) Jon Walters enough for giving me this opportunity. Once I saw in their eyes how passionate they are about the club and how much they want to embrace a different identity and philosophy, I could not refuse and, once I’m in, I’m all in."
Prior to coming to England, Pelach worked with UE Figueres, CF Peralada and hometown club Girona.
"Across the extensive dialogue I’ve had across football, including at the highest levels of the game, Narcis is one of the most respected and sought-after coaches around," said Stoke technical director Jonathan Walters, the former Potters striker.
"He is exceptionally driven and meticulous and will drive those same standards from everyone around him at the club.
"Having been a head coach in Spain from the age of 25, it was always something Narcis was going to get back to. He has been patient about selecting the right opportunity."
Since Mark Hughes was sacked in January 2018 and Paul Lambert took over but failed to prevent the Potters being relegated from the Premier League, the club has now made six new managerial appointments.
Pelach will follow Gary Rowett, Nathan Jones, Michael O'Neill, Alex Neil and Schumacher as Stoke's sixth manager or head coach in the Championship.
He joins Corberan, now with early Championship leaders West Bromwich Albion, and Unai Emery at Aston Villa as the third Spanish boss in Midlands football.
"It's a big gamble for sporting director Jon Walters, so immediately results and performances will be scrutinised.
"The two things Stoke City need more than anything are stability and continuity, which they have severely lacked since relegation from the Premier League in 2018.
"The club have to find the right strategy both on and off the pitch sooner rather than later. It’s a worry when the first thought about a new Stoke City boss is 'how long will he last?'
"After six managers in six years, Stoke fans will be hoping that this is the appointment that finally works."
RE: Narcis Pelach - themaclad - 27-12-2024
Potted
RE: Narcis Pelach - Lord Snooty - 27-12-2024
Surprised he took it in the first place. Did alright as caretaker for us but always said he didn't want the full time job.
RE: Narcis Pelach - themaclad - 28-12-2024
Joke of a club, seem to remember when they got relegated, they were going to walk the league, have not finished above 14th and have gone through, dozen plus managers
Stoke City have parted company with head coach Narcis Pelach just 19 games into his tenure at the club, stating that the Catalan was "not the right fit".
Pelach replaced Steven Schumacher on 18 September, signing a three-year contract, but has won only three times in the Championship, the last on 6 November, and the Potters lie 19th in the table.
They were beaten 2-0 by Leeds United on Boxing Day, during which the 36-year-old was criticised over his constant tactical changes.
In a statement, sporting director Jon Walters accepted responsibility for the appointment and Pelach's inability to turn the club's fortunes around.
"Narcis is a talented coach with huge potential," said Walters. "He works relentlessly hard and I have no doubt that he will go on to achieve success in the future.
"However, with the way results and performances have been in recent weeks, we have to accept with hindsight that he has proved not to be the right fit for this club at this time.
"I take full responsibility for that and I'm absolutely determined that we will now make the right choice to take us forward.
"Every decision we make is driven by our love of Stoke City and absolute determination to bring success to the club."
Pelach was former Stoke striker Walters' first appointment since taking on the sporting director role earlier this year.
Since relegation from the Premier League in May 2018, Stoke have finished no higher than 14th.
Starting with Gary Rowett, then Nathan Jones, Michael O'Neill, Alex Neil, and Schumacher, Pelach was their sixth 'permanent' appointment in six-and-a-half years - and is now their third sacking in barely 12 months.
After back-to-back defeats in his opening two matches, the Potters thrashed Portsmouth 6-1 and lost only one of their following nine league matches, indicating progress was being made.
But results have nosedived since the end of November, with five defeats in their last six and Pelach has been dismissed with the January transfer window opening next week.
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"Narcis has our thanks for his around-the-clock endeavours during his time with the club," added chair John Coates.
"He is a great person and a talented coach with a relentless work ethic and a bright future. He departs Stoke City with my very best wishes.
"I would also like to thank our fans for the outstanding way they got behind the team against Leeds United on Boxing Day, and for their continuing and unwavering support."
Stoke state details of who will be in charge for their fixture at home to Sunderland on Sunday will be announced "in due course".
Pelach brought first-team coach Dean Whitehead and goalkeeper coach Paul Clements with him when he was appointed in September.
Stoke sporting director Jon Walters (left) with chair John Coates
Image source,Getty Images
Image caption,
Stoke sporting director Jon Walters (left) with chair John Coates
'The last thing Stoke needed was another major influx of players' - analysis
by Ged Scott, BBC Midlands Sport
Narcis Pelach made a belated appearance in the Stoke City pressroom late on Boxing Day night – although one of impressive bonhomie.
After being kept waiting by Leeds United boss Daniel Farke, who had just spoken at considerable length about his side's comfortable victory, their next game, going top of the league, German values, coaching in general and how little activity he expected to have in the January transfer window, Pelach then entered.
The Catalan politely circuited the room, shaking hands with every member of the press corps present and wishing each one a Happy Christmas.
As it turned out, fatefully, these were to prove parting handshakes.
When Pelach finally sat down, it was to defend his constant changes of tactics, while at the same time stating his intention to sign more players in the January window.
But it only took a quick chat with Potters legend Mike Pejic, BBC Radio Stoke's match summariser on the night, to get another slant on this latest Potters crisis.
Maybe judging any team after just being beaten by the new league leaders is a little unfair.
But possibly the last thing that Stoke need right now is yet another major influx of players, brought on by yet again changing their manager and being cast now as the Watford of the North.
As Pejic said, he already has good players. Maybe he just needed to play them in the right positions.