Who is Narcis Pelach? New Stoke City boss' career so far, previous clubs and style of play

Yesterday at 09:34 AM

Stoke City surprised many by the call to sack Steven Schumacher, and the appointed replacement has come out of left-field too.

Stoke City haven’t started the 2024/25 campaign in eye-catching fashion, but they haven’t disappointed either. As such, the announcement of Schumacher’s exit on Monday came as a big shock.

The Potters have wasted no time in their search for a replacement though.

Rumours of interest in Norwich City first-team coach Narcis Pelach quickly circulated and things have escalated from there. The Spaniard has officially been appointed as the club’s new head coach, coming in on a three-year deal with Dean Whitehead and Paul Clements in his backroom staff.

But amid the progressing appointment, Stoke City fans are understandably asking ‘who is Narcis Pelach?’

Who is Narcis Pelach?

Pelach is a 36-year-old coach who has experience working as an assistant manager primarily, but he has held managerial roles in the lower leagues of Spanish football. It was at this level where he spent his short playing career, coming through the Girona academy before retiring aged just 25.

By then, he had already started coaching, leading the UE Figueres youth side before taking up their role as first-team boss. He then held a role as CD Peralada, moving on in 2019 to become an assistant manager at Girona, back where it all started.

There, he crossed paths with former Stoke City centre-back Marc Muniesa. Pelach served as no. 2 to three different bosses before joining Carlos Corberan’s West Brom coaching staff.

He remained there for just under three years before heading to Norwich City, where he has remained until now.

Pelach’s philosophies

As someone who has mainly worked as an assistant manager, and only experience as the lead man in the dugout came in the lower levels of Spanish football, Pelach’s exact philosophies and tactical plans are somewhat unknown.

However, from the figures the Spaniard has learned from, Stoke City fans can gain an exciting glimpse into his biggest influences and just what that could mean for the Potters’ style of play.

The earlier mentioned Muniesa spoke highly of Pelach, saying:

“He is crazy with football, loves tactics and has a great energy. He’s very good, a very good guy and very intelligent as well.”

Muniesa has also revealed how Pelach learned from some of the best after leaving Girona. He came to England to shadow Pep Guardiola at Manchester City for ‘months’ before linking up with Leeds United when they were under the lead of Marcelo Bielsa.

It was with the Whites where he met Corberan, who he would follow to Huddersfield Town.

While holding differing play styles, Guardiola, Bielsa and Corberan have all operated with a 4-3-3 and a 4-2-3-1. Those formations have been fluid and subject to change and alterations over the years, but Pelach could opt for something similar at Stoke City.

The new Potters boss himself has spoken openly about his obsessive work ethic and how he wants his teams to be versatile, adjusting to various in-game situations and working hard throughout.

It promises to be an intriguing tenure at Stoke City for Pelach, but only time will tell if he is successful.

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