Newcastle Jets’ high performance manager Ian Crook will depart Australia today bound for Norwich City F.C. where he will take on the role of first-team coach.
Newcastle Jets- high performance manager Ian Crook will depart Australia today bound for Norwich City F.C. where he will take on the role of first-team coach.
Crook, 46, will return to the Canaries to work alongside newly appointed manager Bryan Gunn. The pair will reunite in Norwich after being teammates at the Coca-Cola Championship club between 1986-1997.
In his time at Norwich as a player, Crook appeared in a total of 342 games and scored 18 goals. The former central midfielder originally came to Australia to play for National Soccer League club Northern Spirit FC, before taking up coaching roles at Newcastle United (Australia) and then Sydney FC in the inaugural season of the Hyundai A-League.
As high performance manager at the Jets, Crook contributed off the field as part of Gary van Egmond-s coaching staff, working predominately with the National Youth League side.
“It-s certainly sad to see ‘Crooky- depart from our club at this time, particularly with our move into the AFC Champions League coming up, however it is a wonderful opportunity that Ian has in front of him and we understand his decision to move on,” Newcastle Jets CEO John Tsatsimas said today.
“Norwich City obviously holds a special place for Ian and he has been given a chance to work with the first team there and rejoin a club that he spent over a decade with, which is fantastic for him.”
“We wish him all the best as he embarks on the next chapter of his career, and appreciate the service that he has given us in his time in Newcastle.”
“Certainly the work that he has already done for us off the field with regards to preparing for the Champions League can now be picked up and used as we enter this exciting time for our club,” added Mr. Tsatsimas.
