Norwich City has made a significant change, dismissing head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup and entrusting former Arsenal and England midfielder Jack Wilshere with the responsibility of managing the team for the remaining two games of the season. Thorup's tenure, which began in May 2024 following his appointment as David Wagner's successor after the Canaries' play-off loss to Leeds United, was cut short due to a string of unfavorable results, with six defeats in the last eight Championship matches.

Sporting director Ben Knapper commented on the decision, stating, "While we made this appointment with a long-term focus and in line with our wider club strategy and direction, unfortunately recent results and performances have deemed it necessary for us make a change." During Thorup's time with the club, Norwich managed to win 14 out of 47 games. Additionally, assistant coach Glen Riddersholm has also departed from the club.

Knapper expressed his gratitude, saying, "They are both fantastic people who worked tirelessly to help improve and move our football club forward. We all wish the two of them the best in the next stage of their respective careers." The Easter weekend proved particularly challenging for Norwich, as they suffered defeats against Portsmouth and Millwall, conceding a total of eight goals. Currently, the team is positioned 14th in the league table, trailing the play-off places by 13 points.

Thorup had previously acknowledged the need for a long-term approach, stating, "There is no short-term solution here, it's long-term and hopefully with all the decisions we have taken and are going to take we'll build an even stronger team, a team that is better suited to the way we want to play," in an interview with BBC Radio Norfolk following their 3-1 defeat to Millwall.

Wilshere, supported by Tony Roberts and Nick Stanley, will be in charge for the upcoming match against Middlesbrough and the final game against Cardiff on May 3rd. He was appointed as a first-team coach last October, after managing Arsenal's under-18 team. Wilshere inherits a Norwich team with a strong attacking record, having scored more Championship goals (67) than any team other than leaders Leeds, but defensively vulnerable, conceding 66 goals, a total exceeded only by Sheffield Wednesday, Portsmouth, Cardiff City and Plymouth Argyle.

Thorup's departure marks the 14th managerial change in the Championship this season, making him the third boss to lose his job since the start of the Easter weekend, following Cardiff's Omer Riza and Tony Mowbray of West Bromwich Albion. Despite signing a three-year contract, Thorup faced challenges, including the absence of key players Jonathan Rowe and Gabriel Sara, and a series of injuries throughout the season. After an initial defeat to Oxford United, Norwich remained unbeaten at home until a 2-0 loss to Bristol City on November 9th. A mixed run of results followed, including a four-game stretch in December where they only managed one point, before rebounding with 10 points from the next four games, highlighted by a 2-1 Boxing Day victory over Millwall.

The squad was strengthened with the additions of Emiliano Marcondes and Anis Ben Slimane, joining talents like Borja Sainz and US international striker Josh Sargent. However, a six-match ban for Sainz and a 3-2 home defeat by Sheffield Wednesday on March 11th triggered a poor run of form that ultimately led to Thorup's dismissal. The club has been under the ownership of American Mark Attanasio's Norfolk FB Holdings since March, replacing Delia Smith and Michael Wynn-Jones.

Attanasio has expressed his ambition for Norwich to return to the Premier League within three to five years. The club has a history of bouncing back to the top flight, having achieved promotion from the Championship three times in the past decade, but has struggled to maintain their position in the Premier League. Chris Goreham, BBC Radio Norfolk's Norwich City commentator, notes that Norwich has been the worst-performing team in the Championship since the start of March and that Thorup himself was frustrated with the team's defensive frailties. Despite some support for Thorup to continue next season, the new American owners have opted for a change, reflecting a desire for immediate improvement.