...

It was with a long-term strategy in mind that Johannes Hoff Thorup and Glen Riddersholm were hired as head and assistant coaches, respectively, at Norwich.

The club was to invest heavily in young talent, which the Danes showed, among other things, by signing Brøndby great talent Oscar Schwartau.

But the project never became quite that long-term.

On April 22, Norwich announced that Johannes Hoff Thorup and Glen Riddersholm had left the club with immediate effect, as they wanted to move on.

In an interview with Tipsbladet, Johannes Hoff Thorup now talks for the first time about the days leading up to and after the firing.

-We got the message the day after our last game against Millwall. Quite quietly, where we took it face to face , and they told us why they had come to that decision. There is no big discussion club when you are in a situation like that. It's just about getting it over with so you can move on with the text, says the former FC Nordsjælland coach.

But did the news come as a big surprise?

– I worked closer to the sporting director and the other directors than Glen did, so for him it was probably a bigger surprise than for me, because you can see in a football club when things start to change a bit. Communication becomes a bit less, and future plans for next season are put on hold more than they had been done previously.

– So I could see that it was pointing in a direction, but it was still a bit of a surprise, because it wasn't quite what we had bought into to begin with, says Hoff Thorup.

Hoff Thorup and Riddersholm managed 47 matches at the helm of the 'canaries', but is that enough if a completely new strategy is to be implemented? Not at all, if you ask Johannes Hoff Thorup.

– I always say we didn't have enough time. We have obviously worked with a long-term perspective, and we also knew that the first season would have bumps in the road. That's why we also made some decisions based on a longer-term view. That's why we can be surprised how things can change all of a sudden, he says.

Is there anything Johannes Hoff Thorup could have done differently in Norwich? The Dane tries to reflect on that in hindsight.

– If the communication from the start had been that we were going to reach the top six and be one of the playoff clubs, we would probably have made some other decisions along the way. Then we wouldn't necessarily have played with the youngest team in Norwich in generations, as we did in one of the games, where we had an average age of around 23.5 years, which is younger than some of the FC Nordsjælland teams I have sent onto the field.

– We probably prioritized what we knew would give us some performance here and now instead of giving some of the young players a chance. There have been some things along the way that we would have done differently if it had been solely about the performance.

– I have learned a lot. If I am going abroad again, I need to have a bigger staff around me of people I know. From the outside, it is really about the players to start with when you start as a coach, but you work just as much with a staff and an organization that has to understand your thoughts, and it has really taken a long time, and we didn't get there either.

After the firing of Johannes Hoff Thorup, Jack Wilshere, who was the Dane's assistant coach, has taken over the head coach role temporarily.

But that's not something that annoys the former head coach.

– I was well aware of Jack's terms of employment, so I knew that at some point he would step up as head coach, and we had also made a good plan together with him.

– If it had been Glen who had taken over, I would probably have raised my eyebrows more than once, but not when it's Jack. The premise for bringing him in was his next step in his career, where he would move on from Norwich or Glen and I would move on from Norwich so he could become head coach, says Johannes Hoff Thorup.

Johannes Hoff Thorup has a past as head coach at FC Nordsjælland, where he played 67 games before being sold to Norwich.

Posted By: Klobo04 on April 30th 2025 at 13:24:07

Message Thread

JHT speaks about leaving NCFC (NCFC) - Klobo04, Apr 30, 13:21:00
- I’m confused what different decisions would have been made if he knew top 6 was the aim (NCFC) - Duck, Apr 30, 13:50:39
  - concede fewer goals perhaps? (NCFC) - Tombs, Apr 30, 13:56:24
    - TBF we fell off a cliff. (NCFC) - usacanary, Apr 30, 15:27:06
    - Knapper said then we should be targeting at least the play offs every season (NCFC) - Fenwood Lad, Apr 30, 15:25:57
      - apparently our football club is a "project" (NCFC) - Tombs, Apr 30, 16:03:11
    - That Feb interview with knapper (NCFC) - Henclrikus, Apr 30, 14:20:29
    - "Norwich are next in action on Saturday when they travel to Blackburn Rovers" (NCFC) - Klobo04, Apr 30, 14:02:23
  - More pragmatic style? (n/m) (NCFC) - loz, Apr 30, 13:52:10
    - I think his statement a few weeks after the WBA game fucked him. (NCFC) - usacanary, Apr 30, 15:20:54
- Certainly ties in with those Zoe Webber program notes (NCFC) - inutero, Apr 30, 13:35:51
  - He wasn't sacked because of not reaching the top 6 (NCFC) - Ken Dodds Dads Dog, Apr 30, 14:10:06
    - Could you flip some of that in his defence though? (NCFC) - Klobo04, Apr 30, 15:29:44
      - You'd think that a decent coach should be able to get the team playing the way he wanted (NCFC) - Ken Dodds Dads Dog, Apr 30, 15:43:08
        
        Yes but it takes time and a refresh of players. (n/m) (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Apr 30, 15:45:28
        
        needing a massive churn would imply a ridiculously stubborn adherence to a style (NCFC) - Cable Gap Pioneer, Apr 30, 17:52:36
        
        TBF he did vs WBA then had a strop saying he hated the style of play. (n/m) (NCFC) - usacanary, Apr 30, 17:58:17
      - 100% this. (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Apr 30, 15:39:14
        
        I suspect they didn't anticipate the bump in the road being results going off a cliff... (NCFC) - Pixelman, Apr 30, 15:49:51
        
        Possibly but the decision then is whether you hold your nerve and stick to your plans or (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Apr 30, 15:57:25
        
        All plans are off once the dressing room is lost (n/m) (NCFC) - SCC 28, Apr 30, 16:47:56
        
        Not if you plan to change the dressing room. (n/m) (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Apr 30, 17:16:32
        
        Huh? A lot of those players were ones he brought in. (NCFC) - usacanary, Apr 30, 21:42:43
    - Nailed it.....Spitting truth bombs... (NCFC) - usacanary, Apr 30, 15:19:04
      - You're missing the bigger picture. (n/m) (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Apr 30, 15:41:08
        
        What is the bigger picture im missing? (n/m) (NCFC) - usacanary, Apr 30, 16:58:40
    - Personally I'd prefer not to play a style that suits Duffy. (n/m) (NCFC) - The Gaffer, Apr 30, 15:18:17
    - *two of the top four (NCFC) - DJ Ginga, Apr 30, 15:06:17
      - i'm forgetting... (NCFC) - DJ Ginga, Apr 30, 16:20:30
        
        Came in with almost guarantee of the managers job (NCFC) - littletinyphil, Apr 30, 16:43:23
        
        I think you have to take these things at face value up to a point (NCFC) - norwaay, Apr 30, 17:08:08
        
        So not giving JHT his own back room appointment (NCFC) - littletinyphil, Apr 30, 17:17:16
        
        yep, absolutely; painted himself into a corner as someone mentioned on here today (NCFC) - DJ Ginga, Apr 30, 17:50:31
        
        can't also be asking the supporters for patience and then show none themselves (n/m) (NCFC) - DJ Ginga, Apr 30, 17:59:19
        
        Definitely, let’s hope he proves himself and signs (NCFC) - littletinyphil, Apr 30, 21:39:36
        
        expression credit: The Gaffer (NCFC) - DJ Ginga, Apr 30, 17:55:46
        
        Yep, that's fair enough (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Apr 30, 17:18:49
        
        Maybe they thought at the time that Hoff would do a blinder and get poached by Man Utd (n/m) (NCFC) - Ken Dodds Dads Dog, Apr 30, 16:46:40
        
        Maybe they could take Knapper too (n/m) (NCFC) - littletinyphil, Apr 30, 17:01:52
        
        23rd October 2024 ftr (n/m) (NCFC) - DJ Ginga, Apr 30, 16:33:12
        
        30th May 2024 for Hoff on a 3yr contract, ftr (n/m) (NCFC) - DJ Ginga, Apr 30, 16:34:34
        
        so he was backdoored five months into a three year project, ftr (n/m) (NCFC) - DJ Ginga, Apr 30, 17:41:53
    - Spot on (n/m) (NCFC) - roedtonowhere, Apr 30, 14:30:43
- I'm confused (NCFC) - Henclrikus, Apr 30, 13:34:43
  - I thought you said I was confused? (NCFC) - Chair_of_the_Bored, Apr 30, 20:26:51
  - its excude making 101....never admit anything. (NCFC) - usacanary, Apr 30, 15:30:08
  - he must have had some say on recruitment (n/m) (NCFC) - ghostof barry butler, Apr 30, 13:42:09
    - Probably. But his points seems to be (NCFC) - Azteca, Apr 30, 13:44:52
  - Does he mean recruitment could have been players ready (NCFC) - littletinyphil, Apr 30, 13:41:21
    - The sounds from the club were consistently 'transitional' (n/m) (NCFC) - Azteca, Apr 30, 13:42:50
      - Yeah, that makes Zoe Webbers note more odd (NCFC) - littletinyphil, Apr 30, 13:48:05
        
        It *was* a transition season - but with some gateway reviews to tick off (NCFC) - norwaay, Apr 30, 15:13:16
        
        Possible they knew he was sacked when she wrote that? (NCFC) - littletinyphil, Apr 30, 15:26:25
        
        If the prog editor sees something that might raise a flag (NCFC) - Henclrikus, Apr 30, 15:22:52
        
        I imagine they just do what they're told. (n/m) (NCFC) - norwaay, Apr 30, 15:45:34
        
        Always the best way to run things! (n/m) (NCFC) - Henclrikus, Apr 30, 16:43:39
  - I think there are few examples where he prioritised youth over experience (NCFC) - Klobo04, Apr 30, 13:38:31
    - Not convinced. (NCFC) - Henclrikus, Apr 30, 13:49:41
  - Surely loss of leaders I.e. Hanley , Barnes etc… (NCFC) - loz, Apr 30, 13:36:36
- Any chance of a translation please? (n/m) (NCFC) - loz, Apr 30, 13:22:35
  - They're all cunts and I'm a genius (n/m) (NCFC) - LittleMouseWithClogs, Apr 30, 16:08:44
  - ... (NCFC) - Klobo04, Apr 30, 13:24:07
    - If what he says about expectations is true, that doesn't reflect well on Knapper / Club (n/m) (NCFC) - Azteca, Apr 30, 13:36:48
      - Fair point on bringing in his own staff as well… (NCFC) - loz, Apr 30, 13:37:48
        
        Is that line aimed at Wilshere? (NCFC) - littletinyphil, Apr 30, 15:41:53
    - Oh look, Jack's "terms of employment" (NCFC) - mr carra, Apr 30, 13:25:49
      - Blimey (n/m) (NCFC) - SCC 28, Apr 30, 15:33:23
      - Nailed on job for Jack then feels a bit odd.. (NCFC) - loz, Apr 30, 13:33:08
        
        he'll get sacked (n/m) (NCFC) - Tombs, Apr 30, 13:42:05
        
        Not necessarily, I don't think Knapper expected him to (NCFC) - Azteca, Apr 30, 13:41:25
        
        Chances of a Champs manager lasting anywhere near 3/4 years are pretty remote (n/m) (NCFC) - mr carra, Apr 30, 13:55:47

Reply to Message

In order to add a post to the WotB Message Board you must be a registered WotB user.

If you are not yet registered then please visit the registration page. You should ensure that their browser is setup to accept cookies.