Next Norwich City Manager: What linked ex Chelsea coach already said about Carrow Road

Former Chelsea coach Brendan Rodgers has emerged as a leading candidate to take the vacant managerial role at Norwich City following the sacking of Liam Manning.

The Canaries parted ways with the 40-year-old following a 2-1 defeat to Rodgers’ former side Leicester City in the Championship last weekend. Manning had only joined the club in the summer, making the move from Bristol City, but an 11-game winless run left Norwich City second from bottom in the second tier.

Sporting director Ben Knapper said: “We have tried absolutely everything possible to work through this incredibly challenging period but, unfortunately, given the recent run of results and performances, we have been left with no choice other than to make a change at this stage. Liam and his staff worked tirelessly to move our football club forward. They are all fundamentally good people and we wish them the very best in whatever comes next.

“We very much understand the frustration and criticism from our supporters at this stage. So far, results and performances on the pitch haven’t been good enough. We accept that responsibility, but it’s now imperative that we start to repair the relationship with our supporters and do everything we can to give them something to get behind.”

Brendan Rodgers linked with Norwich City job

Norwich City are now the latest club in the UK looking for a new manager and it’s a list of familiar faces linked with the position at Carrow Road. Former Wolves boss Gary O’Neil is an early frontrunner with the coach still available for work after talks with a return to the Midlands side broke down in recent weeks.

Russell Martin is another name touted following his departure from Rangers. Meanwhile, Rodgers is also named as a frontrunner following him leaving his role at Celtic at the end of October.

The 52-year-old has previously worked in the Championship at Watford, Reading and Swansea City. Rodgers’ first job in coaching came with the Chelsea academy when Jose Mourinho was in charge at Stamford Bridge in 2004. He went on to be promoted to reserve team manager before taking his first head coach role at Watford in 2008.

Ex Celtic boss learnt trade at Chelsea

Speaking about Mourinho ahead of taking on his former mentor when managing Leicester City against Roma in 2022, Rodgers described the veteran as a ‘special man’. He added: "I haven't forgotten what I gained from him as a young coach. I studied him and watched him. I was in pole position for that.

"I was at Chelsea for four and a bit years. He was there for three of them. The teams I saw him coach, he coached them to be aggressive. There is nothing wrong with that. He sets up his teams to make them very difficult to beat. That is OK too. He is one of the greats of our generation. He has nothing to prove to anyone. He is a winner. He will always be a winner."

It remains to be seen whether Rodgers is tempted by the Norwich City role, but he has been impressed by the set-up at the club on visits during his career. In 2021, after his Leicester City side bagged a narrow win over the Canaries, Rodgers admitted that Carrow Road can be a fortress.

He said: “We didn’t play well, we had to be able to come here and Carrow Road at a three o’clock kick off when the sun is shining is always a difficult ground to come to. We showed great resilience especially towards the end. After going in front, the players had to dig in. Throughout the game we had moments of quality and the two moments of real quality we scored.”

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