Johannes Hoff Thorup ally outlines what City can expect

Whether it be youth development, a demonstrable playing style or a clear manner - as more is learned about the highly-rated 35-year-old, the more optimism levels within the fanbase elevate. 

The proof of the pudding will be in the eating once the Championship campaign begins in August - but all the noises emanating from Carrow Road begin to shown the new direction of travel spearheaded by Thorup and sporting director Ben Knapper, who selected him. 

Those flames of positivity will only be fanned by the man who first discovered Thorup as a young coach in Denmark and gave him the opportunity to move to Nordsjaelland from AB as a 26-year-old, having been impressed by his mannerisms and methodology as an opposing coach. 

Alexander Riget helped start the process that led to Thorup spending nine years in Farum - eventually graduating to the position of head coach. 

"I was the one who identified him nine years ago," Riget told Sky Sports.  "You could see that he was a talented coach. He was very clear in his communication on the sideline. He was also very good at adapting during the various games that we played against them.

"Taking the step from AB to Nordsjaelland, it was in doubt because he would have made a very fast progression there. So he was unsure what to do. But coming into an environment here and having some mentors he could learn from was a crucial step.

"He has always been a communicator. There is never any doubt when he is doing a session, even with the staff there is a very clear direction in terms of what he wants. He is well prepared and has a clear idea of his leadership and his style of play."

Much has been said and written about Thorup's play style, something City analysed in painstaking detail before stepping up their pursuit of him this summer. 

Riget has seen first-hand the way Thorup has built and developed that over a multi-year period whilst establishing relationships with players that have created a buy-in that is intrinsic to its success. 

As Thorup seeks to replicate that process at Norwich in the early stages of his tenure, Riget believes his grounding at Nordsjaelland is something he can tap into. 

"I think we have also done something that will prepare him well for [Norwich], working with other cultures. That will also be important for him there," Riget said. 

Johannes Hoff Thorup built an attractive playing style at Danish side FC Nordsjaelland. (Image: Rudi Dalsgaard)

"Like myself when I started, he was privileged to have some of the best football brains in Denmark around him. Flemming Pedersen, Kasper Hjulmand, the current national team coach, and others. Which, of course, has helped him to become a much better coach.

"It is about giving young players the opportunity to fulfil their potential. Johannes has been a good representative for that strategy. If Norwich want a coach for the younger players then they have found the right one because he has shown that he can do it.

"We are the team in Denmark with the most possession but Johannes as head coach has been good at implementing that so that we are not only keeping the ball but also scoring goals.

"An offensive style of play, that is what he stands for. It is about attractive football and entertaining the spectators.

"Tempo, too. Playing a fast football game. When you look at how fast we can go from building up through pressure to creating a chance, playing courageous, exciting football. In Europe, we kept playing that way, we trusted in our game. That is Johannes.

"It sounds like he is the perfect everything! He has left, but I still trust him. He will be a success at Norwich, for sure."

At Thorup's official unveiling alongside Knapper, the pair spoke enthusiastically about the importance of pathways. 

The Dane graduated from an organisation that has adopted it as a key pillar of its approach, but has also balanced that alongside utilising players of a different profile.

 "Another thing which tells something about Johannes that is important is that some players who were sold have come to Nordsjaelland on loan deals," Riget said. 

"This is a small club in Denmark but you are working with world-class talent. And one of the reasons why they returned is because Johannes was the coach. He is good at building relationships with players. Not only about football but about preparing them for life."

"When we played against Fenerbahce, we had nine academy graduates in the starting XI. Many organisations have an idea to bring in young players. It is another thing to do it when it is getting tough.

Johannes Hoff Thorup and Ben Knapper are believers in youth development. (Image: Denise Bradley/Newsquest)

"In his first season as a coach, we were having some difficulties with results. Not because of him but because we were playing very young players. But we kept to our strategy. For many years now, we have played with the youngest players.

"When you are working with younger players, they can be inconsistent. But I also think it makes a lot of sense as a strategy. That is the reason why we can attract quality players and people to this organisation. We are unique in the way we are doing things."