Stoke dismiss Pelach after three months in charge
Stoke City have made a big decision as they head into 2025
They have parted ways with head coach Narcis Pelach just 19 games into his tenure.
Pelach, who replaced Steven Schumacher on 18 September with a three-year deal, managed only three Championship wins, the most recent coming on 6 November. Stoke currently sit 19th in the table.
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The Potters suffered a 2-0 defeat to Leeds United on Boxing Day, a match that saw the 36-year-old face criticism for his frequent tactical adjustments.
Former Stoke defender Ryan Shawcross will step in as caretaker manager for Sunday’s home fixture against Sunderland, supported by Alex Morris, Dean Whitehead, and Darren Behcet from the backroom staff.
Goalkeeper coach Paul Clements and performance analyst Harrison Glew have also left the club. Both Clements and Whitehead joined alongside Pelach when he was appointed in September.
In a club statement, Stoke’s sporting director Jon Walters acknowledged his role in Pelach’s appointment and the team’s continued struggles under his leadership.
Since their relegation from the Premier League in May 2018, Stoke have failed to finish higher than 14th. Pelach was the club’s sixth “permanent” manager in six-and-a-half years, following Gary Rowett, Nathan Jones, Michael O'Neill, Alex Neil, and Schumacher. He is also their third managerial dismissal in the past 12 months.
Although Pelach oversaw a promising run early in his tenure, including a 6-1 thrashing of Portsmouth and just one defeat in nine games, results have dramatically declined. Stoke have lost five of their last six matches, and with the January transfer window approaching, the club have decided to make another managerial change.
Who's among the frontrunners to be the next manager
After several experienced managers failed to succeed at The bet365 Stadium, Stoke opted for a different strategy by appointing Pelach. However, the inexperienced 36-year-old was unable to improve the club's fortunes, and they are now in search of a new manager. So the question now, what comes next?
Steve Cooper and Ryan Lowe have emerged as two of the potential candidates. they have plenty of experience at Championship level, making them an attractive candidate for the Potters' hierarchy.
Cooper was recently dismissed by Leicester City in the Premier League. Having managed Premier League teams like Nottingham Forest and Leicester for several seasons, it is uncertain whether he would be willing to drop down to the Championship, especially to a team that is struggling in the lower ranks of the table.
