Narcis Pelach sends an emotional letter to Norwich City following his transfer to Stoke City.
Narcis Pelach has sent an emotional parting letter to Norwich City after leaving the club to become the new head coach at Stoke City.
Pelach had spent the previous year as a first-team coach at Carrow Road, having moved from Huddersfield Town to David Wagner’s backroom staff last summer.
The 36-year-old helped Norwich reach the Championship play-offs last season, but were defeated by Leeds United in the semi-finals. Following Wagner’s dismissal in May, he stayed at the club to work with new head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup.
Pelach has now left to take up his first managerial position in English football at the bet365 Stadium, where he will succeed Steven Schumacher, who was unexpectedly fired on Monday after only five games of the season.
Pelach will lead Stoke for the first time against Hull City on Friday night. He will be joined by Canaries goalkeeping coach Paul Clements and performance analyst Harrison Glew.
Narcis Pelach’s Norwich City parting message
After his appointment as Stoke’s head coach was revealed, Pelach turned to social media to say farewell to Norwich, reminiscing on his time at Carrow Road and thanking the club and its supporters for their support.
“My time at a wonderful club has come to an end,” wrote Pelach on X.
“A club consisting of decent, hardworking, and kind individuals.
“It’s been a joy to spend this time with you, and I’m happy for being here, meeting so many wonderful people, and experiencing another playoff.
“I appreciate everyone’s friendliness and the manner I’ve been treated.
“I wish you all the best, good luck and above all, thank you very much.”
Opening up about his choice to join the Potters, Pelach said that he has received offers to manage other teams in England and overseas, but the opportunity to take over at the bet365 Stadium was too appealing to pass up.
Pelach expressed gratitude to John Coates and Jon Walters for providing him with this chance, saying he feels a feeling of duty to Stoke City.
“I have had other opportunities to become a Head Coach in England and other countries. But when 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 couldn’t say no, because once I’m in, I’m all in.
“I know the league, I know the opponents, and I already know our players. The squad’s level is good. I believe in them, and I will develop a playing style that complements their characteristics.
“The technique will be new, the training will be tough every day, it will be uncomfortable at times, and players and coaches will be pushed to their limits.
“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.”
Stoke, like Norwich, have had a poor start to the season, and the Championship table now separates Pelach’s new team and his previous employers by only two places.
| Championship table (as it stands 18th September) | ||||
| Team | P | GD | Pts | |
| 9 | Leeds United | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 10 | Middlesbrough | 5 | 2 | 8 |
| 11 | Swansea City | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| 12 | QPR | 5 | -1 | 5 |
| 13 | Stoke City | 5 | -3 | 6 |
| 14 | Coventry City | 5 | -1 | 5 |
| 15 | Norwich City | 5 | -2 | 5 |
| 16 | Plymouth Argyle | |||
Norwich City may have regretted Narcis Pelach’s departure to Stoke City.
Pelach is a fascinating signing for Stoke, and although it is undoubtedly a risk, he might prove to be an exciting addition.
Pelach is clearly a highly regarded coach, and he will have earned significant experience working with Wagner, Carlos Corberan, and Neil Warnock while at Norwich and Huddersfield.
If Pelach is successful at the bet365 Stadium, the Canaries may regret not offering him the opportunity to take over as manager at Carrow Road this summer after Wagner’s departure, especially considering Thorup’s early problems.
Thorup has won only two of his first seven games in charge across all competitions, and while he has had to deal with disruptive transfer rumors for much of his tenure, Norwich may be left wondering if Pelach was a better option.
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