Norwich coach Farke leaves after first win

Norwich City head coach Daniel Farke has been sacked hours after their first win of the Premier League season.

Farke had led Norwich to promotion from the Championship twice since 2017.

“We feel now is the right time for a change to give ourselves the best opportunity of retaining our Premier League status,” said sporting director Stuart Webber.

In Farke’s post-match interview with BBC Sport, he gave no indication he knew he was about to lose his job.

“We definitely have a chance [of survival],” he said. “It’s a long marathon. The longer we work together, the better we will be as a team. I can’t guarantee we’ll stay in the league but don’t write us off.”

The German was Norwich manager for 208 games in total, winning 87 of them.

He took over in 2017, leading the Canaries to the Championship title in his second season.

They were relegated after one campaign in the Premier League, but bounced straight back as champions last season.

But he has the fourth worst record of all Premier League managers to have taken charge of 20 games or more – winning just six of his 49 top-flight games.

Ex-Liverpool and Fulham midfielder Danny Murphy told Match of the Day: “He has made some special memories at Norwich.

“The problem is the coach’s job is to set up the tactics and style and it is too much the same as last time they went down. I think the change was the right thing, they have given themselves a fighting chance.”

Former Norwich striker Chris Sutton told BBC Radio 5 Live: “I think if Norwich have to make a change, they have to make it now to give themselves a chance.

“I think Farke’s done a fantastic job, Norwich backed his model, they gave him a four-year deal in the summer.

“This must have been in the thought process for a while. We don’t like to see people sacked, but Norwich City want the best chance to be in the Premier League.

“You look at teams like Brentford, they’re competitive. Norwich haven’t been.”

The Canaries confirmed that coaches Eddie Riemer, Chris Domogalla and Christopher John have all left the club too.

Webber said the decision “was not an easy one”.

“All at Norwich City should be forever grateful to Daniel and his staff for the significant role they have played in our journey,” he added.

“They helped deliver two Championship titles, many memorable moments and they all fully bought into our philosophy and what it means to be part of this football club.

“Daniel and his staff will always be welcome back here. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank them all for their hard work and wish them well for the future.”

A Norwich statement read: “The club will issue a further update on its first team staff in due course.”

Their next game is not until they host Southampton in two weeks’ time because of the imminent international break.

Analysis

BBC Sport’s Mandeep Sanghera

Sporting director Stuart Webber told Daniel Farke about the decision after the game against Brentford.

Norwich held off telling the German until after the win because they did not want to disrupt the team’s preparations – but the decision had been under consideration for a while.

The 7-0 thrashing by Chelsea last month and the manner of some performances had raised alarms at Carrow Road.

Norwich are unlikely to have taken the decision without a plan and, with the international break coming up, a new manager could be in place for the club’s next game on 20 November.

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