Jack Wilshere lands first managerial job – and ex-England star will go head-to-head against former Arsenal team-mate in just his SECOND game

Jack Wilshere has been handed his first managerial role after being appointed Norwich boss on an interim basis.

The former Arsenal star will take on the job following the Canaries’ decision to part ways with head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup on Tuesday morning.

In a statement, sporting director Ben Knapper said: ‘Whilst we made this appointment with a long-term focus and in line with our wider club strategy and direction, unfortunately recent results and performances have deemed it necessary for us make a change’.

The statement continued: ‘Jack Wilshere, assisted by Tony Roberts and Nick Stanley, will take charge of the first team on an interim basis for our two remaining Sky Bet Championship fixtures of the season.

‘The club will now progress with its plans of appointing a new permanent head coach in due course’.

Wilshere’s first match in charge will see him lead the Canaries to the Riverside Stadium for a clash against Middlesbrough. 

It will be the first managerial role of his career after hanging up his boots at the age of 30

Following that, Norwich will take on Cardiff City in their final game of the season, who are currently managed by Wilshere’s former team-mate Aaron Ramsey. 

Ramsey broke into Cardiff’s first-team aged just 16 in 2007 before joining Arsenal. He returned to the Bluebirds in 2023 but has seen his game time limited due to injuries.

He was set to miss the rest of the season regardless after undergoing surgery on a hamstring problem sustained last month and will now focus solely on coaching.

Wilshere, similarly, made his name out on the pitch – emerging as a ferocious talent at Arsenal – before eventually hanging up his boots and moving into coaching. 

He took Arsenal’s Under 18s – featuring Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri – to the FA Youth Cup final in his first season before joining Norwich’s senior staff last year. 

Reflecting on his move into management, Wilshere told Mail Sport last month: ‘What I would say is you don’t rip up everything you learned while playing, because you need it. But you go back to the start of that journey. It’s just a completely different skillset. 

‘Everyone’s journey is a little bit different, but one thing that I would encourage and my message to players that want to go into coaching is just to take your time and learn.

Wilshere joined Norwich City earlier this season and has relished working at Carrow Road

Wilshere was in charge a youth team that featured current starlet Ethan Nwaneri (pictured here in 2015

‘There’s so many basic things that you think, if you’ve been a player it will come naturally to you. It doesn’t, you have to learn it, you have to be really clear on a playing style, on a way that you see the game in every moment. It takes time, but I’m really happy that I decided to take this journey.’ 

Wilshere started his youth role at Arsenal just four days after calling time on his playing career in 2022.

Wilshere himself was an Arsenal youngster who broke on to the scene during his teenage years, making his competitive Premier League debut against Blackburn as a 16-year-old in 2008.

Unfortunately, Wilshere’s career was plagued with a multitude of injury setbacks, which led to his eventual retirement as a player at Danish club AGF in 2022, following spells at West Ham and Bournemouth.