- A Championship club have sacked their manager after just five games
- The manager has been replaced by one of Arsenal’s most hated enemies
- LISTEN NOW: It’s All Kicking Off!, available wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes every Monday and Thursday
A Championship side have announced that they have sacked their manager just five games into the season.
The decision was made to ‘serve the long-term interests’ of the club.
The club have elected to replace him on a caretaker basis with an individual who is one of Arsenal‘s most hated enemies.
Stoke City have parted company with head coach Steven Schumacher.
Former Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross will take charge of the club on a caretaker basis along with Alex Morris.
A Championship head coach has been sacked just five games into the new season
Stoke announced that they have parted company with head coach Steven Schumacher
A statement from sporting director Jonathan Walters read: ‘My role as Sporting Director is to make tough decisions that serve the long-term interests of Stoke City.
‘After ongoing discussions with John Coates, we feel the time is right for a change in direction to bring success to the club.
‘We have a young, dynamic squad that is eager to develop and a clear vision of how to achieve success, and we hope to announce a new appointment shortly. We will need the fans, staff, and players united in support to achieve our goals.
‘As always in football, these decisions are difficult, and we wish Steven and his staff all the best for the future.’
As well as Schumacher, Mark Hughes, Chris Cohen, Peter Cavanagh and Elliot Turner have also left Stoke.
Stoke chairman Peter Coates said: ‘Steven, Mark, Chris, Peter and Elliot depart with our thanks for their efforts and with our best wishes for their future careers.
‘We have faith in the squad of players we have assembled and firmly believe they can bring success to Stoke City this season.
‘I continue to be hugely thankful to the Club’s fans for their loyal and passionate support.’
Former Stoke player Ryan Shawcross (pictured) will take caretaker charge along with Alex Morris
In February 2010, Shawcross broke the leg of Arsenal midfielder Aaron Ramsey
Stoke, meanwhile, have been given permission to speak to Norwich City first team coach Narcis Pelach about becoming their next manager.
Pelach, a former defender who retired from playing at 25, was an assistant under Carlos Corberan at Huddersfield Town where he was also interim head coach prior to joining David Wagner at Norwich and was in contention for the Blackpool manager’s job last year.
Schumacher, who previously managed Plymouth, had been in charge of Stoke since December 2023.
He oversaw 32 games, winning 13, drawing six and losing 13. His final match was a 1-0 defeat away by Oxford on Saturday.
Shawcross started his coaching career with Inter Miami before returning to Stoke in 2023 and coaching the Under-18s before stepping up to oversee the Under-21s.
Stoke have been given permission to speak to Norwich City first team coach Narcis Pelach
As a player, Shawcross featured 453 times for Stoke between 2007 and 2021, having initially joined on loan from Manchester United.
In February 2010, he was sent off for a challenge on Aaron Ramsey that left the Arsenal midfielder with a broken leg.
