Stoke City confirm Narcis Pelach as new head coach as backroom team revealed

Narcis Pelach is new head coach at Stoke City.
-Credit: (Image: Leanne Bagnall/Stoke City)


Narcis Pelach is new head coach at Stoke City. The 36-year-old leaves Norwich to sign a three-year contract at the bet365 Stadium and replace Steven Schumacher, tasked with hauling Stoke up the Championship table.

He will be joined by a backroom team including Norwich coach Paul Clements and performance analyst Harrison Glew, as well as former Stoke midfielder Dean Whitehead, who is leaving Barnsley to return to his old club.

Pelach was in the stands to watch Stoke beat Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup last night and he will take charge of a Championship game against Hull on Friday (8pm) at the bet365 Stadium.

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“I feel a great excitement and sense of responsibility to Stoke City and can’t thank John Coates and Jon Walters enough for giving me this opportunity," he said. “I’ve had other chances to become a head coach in England and in other countries. But 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.

“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.

“The methodology will be different, the training will be intense every day, sometimes it won’t be comfortable and players and coaches will be challenged a lot. But, if we get it right and do something together that owners, players, supporters and staff emotionally believe in, there are no limits to what we can achieve.”

Pelach is the sixth manager or head coach to take charge of Stoke since relegation in 2018 but the first to be appointed since Jon Walters took over as sporting director. Walters has been determined to raise standards and is sure that Pelach's workaholic and energetic approach will get the best out of a young squad.

Walters said: “Across the extensive dialogue I’ve had across football, including at the highest levels of the game, Narcís is one of the most respected and sought-after coaches around. 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 Narcís was going to get back to, and he has been patient about selecting the right opportunity.

“We are delighted that – after talking to John (Coates) and myself – Narcís was excited by the opportunity to represent a club with a talented young squad, a passionate fanbase and ambitious plans for the future. There is no doubt in our minds that Narcís will enjoy a successful career as a head coach and are excited to give him the opportunity to make that a reality at Stoke City.”

Pelach has spent the last four years in England, studying under Pep Guardiola at Man City and Marcelo Bielsa at Leeds before joining Carlos Corberan's coaching team at Huddersfield and working under David Wagner at Norwich.

Coates said: “I’m delighted to welcome Narcís to Stoke City and wish him every success in his new role. From the way he articulates his ideas, to his meticulous depth of knowledge and his obvious passion and desire to be successful, everything about him is impressive, and I’m excited to witness the impact he will have on our club.”

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