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Former USMNT player David Wagner set to join Norwich City

By Robert Wheeler

HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: David Wagner the former Head Coach of Huddersfield Town (who is a local legend having gained promotion to The Premier League for the club) greets the home fans as he returns to the club for the first time in three years during the Sky Bet Championship between Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion at the John Smith's Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by John Early/Getty Images)
HUDDERSFIELD, ENGLAND - AUGUST 27: David Wagner the former Head Coach of Huddersfield Town (who is a local legend having gained promotion to The Premier League for the club) greets the home fans as he returns to the club for the first time in three years during the Sky Bet Championship between Huddersfield Town and West Bromwich Albion at the John Smith's Stadium on August 27, 2022 in Huddersfield, England. (Photo by John Early/Getty Images) /
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Norwich City began their new year with a 1-0 loss to Watford. However, the club are without a permanent manager following the sacking of Dean Smith and could soon have former United States striker David Wagner as their new boss.

According to the BBC, “David Wagner is set to replace Dean Smith as Norwich City manager, with an announcement likely within the next 36 hours.”

Allan Russell is currently taking charge of the Canaries, but the club will need a coach with the right experience if they are to have any chance of promotion back to the Premier League.

Wagner has a promotion to the Premier League on his CV

After four years in charge of Borussia Dortmund II, Wagner took charge of Huddersfield Town in 2015. It was his first experience playing or coaching a club team outside of Germany, and he rose to the occasion.

Within two years at the Terriers, they were promoted to the Premier League. They went up after beating Reading on penalties in the playoff final. Remarkably Huddersfield had a negative goal difference of -2 that season, as they finished fifth in the Championship.

Wagner kept Huddersfield in the Premier League during the 2017/18 season. However, he left midway through the following season, and the club went on to be relegated. Wagner remains popular with Huddersfield fans and attended a game this season.

Following his time in England, Wagner went back to Germany to take the Schalke 04 job. Unfortunately, this was not a success with the club facing many off-the-field issues. He was sacked during the 2020/21 season, in which Schalke would go on to suffer relegation.

His last job was in Switzerland with BSC Young Boys. Wagner had some success with the side, including beating Manchester United in the Champions League. However, he lost his job as they failed to win the league.

Can Wagner get a team promoted from the Championship again?

Norwich will have a realistic target of getting into the playoffs this season, as they are currently just three points off sixth place. Wagner got Huddersfield promoted through this route, and the Canaries will be hoping he can do it again with them.

Norwich’s sporting director is Stuart Webber who worked with him at Huddersfield, so knows what Wagner is capable of and they have had success in the past together.

At Huddersfield, Wagner had time to build a squad. He even took his team on a survival bonding trip to Sweden, where they had to fend for themselves on an island! But he will need a very short-term plan if he is to achieve promotion with Norwich. Then it will be about staying in the Premier League, which Wagner will be keen to have another crack at doing so.

He would also have current USMNT player, Josh Sargent, at his disposal at the club. Sargent has nine goals already this season.

Norwich faces Blackburn Rovers in the FA Cup this weekend, so it will be great for them to have Wagner in place for this game.

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