New Canaries boss Thorup 'an obvious talent'

Johannes Hoff Thorup has been appointed as head coach at Carrow Road

A former Norwich City player has described new Canaries boss Johannes Hoff Thorup as "an obvious talent".

Thorup was revealed as new City head coach on Thursday following the sacking of David Wagner after defeat by Leeds United in the Championship play-offs.

Steen Nedergaard, who played for the Canaries in the early 2000s, worked with him for 10 years in their native Denmark.

"He has a great personality... I'm pretty sure he will come in and give a lot to the club in terms of quality football," he said.

Full-back Steen Nedergaard played for Norwich City in the early 2000s and has worked with Thorup for 10 years in Denmark

Thorup, 35, has now signed a three-year contract and will be joined by assistant head coach Glen Riddersholm.

Ex-City full back Nedergaard described Thorup as an "offensive-minded coach."

He said: "They could have recruited the most interesting coaches in Scandinavia, so I can only think that's credit to Johannes and the potential he's got."

'Great personality'

Although Thorup has been in charge of FC Nordsjælland since January 2023, his affiliation with the club dates back to 2015 when he was a youth coach before becoming first-team assistant head coach in 2021.

"He's clearly an obvious talent... he has travelled a lot and, like the players, he has gained a lot of international experience... he has been put in deep water very early into his career," said Nedergaard.

"He has a great personality - he's outgoing, open and smiling... he has taken really big steps quickly.

"Norwich has always great backing from the ownership. I'm pretty sure he will come in and give a lot to the club in terms of quality football."

After he was announced as new City boss, Thorup said: "I have my ideas and I have my principles in the way that we are going to play, but I am also here to listen to some of the good stuff that has already been done.

"I have to make sure that I am very clear that this is something that we do together and everyone has to have that feeling."